Title: Linux for Non-Geeks Author: Rickford Grant Pages: 308 Publisher: No Starch Press ISBN: 1-59327-034-8 Genre: Non-Fiction (Computer) Synopsis: Imagine a computer system that rarely crashes, freezes, gets viruses, and comes with tons of free stable software. Anyone interested should think of trying Linux. Yet Linux has a reputation as beign too difficult, something only geeks would use. Now those thinking of trying out Linux, yet fearing a lack of technical prowess have new hope. Linux For Non-Geeks breaks down the aspects of installing and using Linux so that the average person can give Linux a try. The following is a list of chapters: Becoming a Penguinista: Welcome to the World of Linux Making Commitments: Installing Linux on Your Machine A New Place to Call Home: Getting to kKnow the Desktop More than Webbed Feet: Doing the Net with Linux Dressing Up the Bird: Customizing the Look, Fell, and Sound of your System GutenBird: Setting Up and Using Your Printer Putting You Data on Ice: Working with Floppies and CDs RPM Isn't a 1980s Atlanta-Based Band: Installing Programs with RPM Simple Kitten Ways: Getting to Know the Linux Terminal and Command Line Yes, Yet Another Way: Downloading, Installing, and Updating Programs with APT and Synaptic Dining on Tarballs: Compiling Programs from Source Data on Ice Revisited: Windows Partitions and USB Storage Devices Tux Rocks: Music à la Linux Brush Wielding Penguins: Linux Does Art Penguins Back at Work: Getting down to Business in Linux Font Feathered Frenzy: Adding New Fonts to Your System Tux Speaks Your Language: Linux for Multilingual Users and Language Learners Tux Untethered: Going Wireless with Linux Leaving the Nest: Getting ready to Move Out on Your Own What to Do If Tux Starts Acting Up: Problem Solving Review: For a long time I've been looking for a book that will help me make the jump from "Linux User" to "Linux Guru." Linux for Non-Geeks is not that book. It does, however, have merit for the non-geek that its title attracts. The major appeal of this book is its project-oriented style. For the most part the projects will give the reader a good feel for what he (or she) is doing. The real hold-up for a typical non-geek will be the installation process. The book mentions that before you try an installation, you should backup anything precious to you. A non-geek may not be familiar with efficient methods of doing this. I would advise most Linux beginners to keep their Windows partition, if only for peace of mind. The author does not recommend this and glosses over a major step in creating a dual-boot system: creating a partition to install Linux on. For this he only mentions that you should use Partition Magic, without mentioning its $70 pricetag or alternative methods for creating partitions. Interestingly enough, one of the projects in a later chapter requires a Windows partition. The author makes a few errors that may prove frustrating to a new Linux user. For example, he discusses changing file permissions with Nautilus and on the command line, but neglects to mention that you must either be the file owner or root to do so. He also neglects to mention that the rmdir command only works if the folder is empty. (Some corrections are on his web page: http://www.edgy-penguins.org/non-geeks.) While the book is especially good for getting a new Linux user familiar with the applications that are available, it lacks in some of the more technical details. I had major issues in the Tarball chapter. However, I don't think I can completely fault the author for the difficulties I encountered while going through various projects. Linux isn't perfect yet, and the author would be hard-pressed to account for every potential problem. On the plus side, there were a few things I picked up from this book that some of my more advanced friends couldn't help me with. For the new user, I'd highly recommend this book, but you should probably have your geek friends help you with the install and hardware setup. Copywrite 2005. If you have problems with this site, please contact the webmaster. Posted 29 July 2005.