Moving to Linux: Kiss the Blue Screen of Death Goodbye! [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

The author does a good job in explaining what Linux is and the installation process for the different distributions, like Red Hat, Mandrake, and SuSE. Following his instructions, you should be able to get a Linux desktop running with little effort. While not an in-depth install manual, the typical user should have enough detail to accomplish the job. From there, you will get acquainted with the different commonly used tools in a Linux distribution like Konqueror, Kmail, GIMP, and OpenOffice. It's this information that will help you make the transition from being competent in a Windows environment to being competent on your new Linux desktop.

For those who want to get beyond the user desktop experience, you will find plenty of references to how the Linux shell operates and how you can use the command line utilities to experience the full power of Linux. It's enough to allow you to do useful tasks without bogging you down in too much detail.

The book also includes a Knoppix Linux CD in the back. This CD allows you to run a Linux system on your computer without installing anything. While somewhat slow (since it runs from the CD) and limited (can't easily save your work), it does give you the chance to experience Linux with no commitment.

Do keep in mind that this book is not meant to be a complete reference book for Linux. If you want to become an expert on shell scripting, you'll want something more than this. But if you're looking for the tool to help you cross over from Windows to Linux, you'll like the level of coverage.

Conclusion
This is the best book I've read so far that talks about how to install and run Linux as a typical user. It also covers all the applications you will want to run on a regular basis. Truly a very good book.

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.

They are always worried about the complexity (or at least the feeling of complexity from using something different).

But now this book (coupled with the modern Linux distributions) provides all that even a nervous migrator needs.

I bought the book on the strength of the author's previous book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I've also recommended it to a number of people already.

If everyone wrote computer books in such a clear and enthusiastic way then more people would read them.

And it's probably the first time that I've found a long term use for a CD accompanying a book. I'm able to use this CD to boot up a Linux system wherever I go, without affecting the host computer at all. So I can use my familiar Linux tools anywhere to fetch email, browse the web or whatever. And the Knoppix distribution even looks beautiful ... even my Windows loving family were impressed !!!

Thoroughly recommended for all Linux users ... and a MUST BUY for all folks even remotely thinking of trying Linux.