Linux for Non-Geeks
By Rickford Grant
$34.95 (No Starch Press)
You can’t browse the Web or scan a techzine without running into articles about “open-source” software and the great Linux crusade to dethrone Microsoft. If your reaction has been “so what?” this might be the book to change that to “Hey Now.”
For those who’ve finally decided to try out a full-fledged Linux operating system, Rick Grant’s “Linux For Non-Geeks” provides a useful, nicely illustrated guide. It really is designed for the nerd wannabe, not the geekmeister who knows way too much already about the topic.
Grant starts by reviewing the evolution of Linux and why it offers a sensible, low-cost alternative to Windows or Mac OS. He then goes through a typical fresh installation of Linux, pointing out pitfalls and areas of special attention — like installing tricky hardware drivers.
It’s a good overview, and yes, true to the title, “Linux For Non-Geeks” keeps itself focused on the layperson.
The book’s listed price of $35 sounds high. But the book comes complete with a full two-CD copy of Red Hat’s Fedora Core plus several Linux utilities. That just about makes this a good buy.
Tom Sowa, The Spokesman-Review