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Ubuntu For Non-Geeks, Third Edition a Pain-Free, Project-Based, Get-Things-Done Guidebook

By Rickford Grant
June 2008
Publisher: No Starch Press
Pages: 360
ISBN 10: 1-59327-180-8 | ISBN 13: 9781593271800
Press Release (Average of 1 Customer Reviews)

Description

The new edition of this best-selling guide to the Ubuntu Linux distribution for beginners covers Ubuntu 8.04, Hardy Heron. Step-by-step projects have you interact with your system, rather than just read about it, as you build upon previously learned concepts. Ubuntu for Non-Geeks covers topics likely to be of interest to the average desktop user, such as installing new software via Synaptic; Internet connectivity; working with removable storage devices, printers, and scanners; burning DVDs, playing audio files, and even working with iPods.
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Featured customer reviews

For anyone needing a good place to start exploring Linux, start with this book,  September 04 2008
Submitted by Anonymous Reader   [Respond | View]

Start here. That is an approximation of the message of this book. For anyone just starting to explore the Linux operating system—or needing a place to start that exploration, this book is, in fact, a good place to start. It’s not perfect, but it’s still a good starting point. The book includes a CD with Ubuntu version 8.04 on it.

There is quite a bit of “new” jargon to learn in order to understand Linux. When I say “new,” I mean “new” to those new to Linux. In my judgment, the book could be a little more helpful here, but I have identified several Wikipedia references that helped me. I list those at the end of this review.

Despite that reservation, the author provides a great deal of information on Ubuntu Linux: how to find it, download it, install it, use it, and locate and install compatible applications (and there are many). He talks about Open Office, digital imaging (GIMP), audio and video applications, and even how to connect to an iPod.

There are chapters on connecting printers and scanners, connecting digital cameras, and even, for those who need it, how to use Chinese, Japanese and Korean characters. And, he has a chapter on installing and using more traditional fonts (for example, in English)

There are four pages of Linux resources at the end of the book. One of those references I highly recommend:

http://www.distrowatch.com, which has an excellent comparison of the top ten (as defined by the web master) Linux distributions.

Other resources I have found helpful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kde
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubuntu

Despite the need for additional jargon explanations, I consider the book worthy of your hard earned cash.

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Media reviews
"With its project-based approach to building the reader's knowledge, this book is truly a guidebook. In fact, it should almost become required reading to use Ubuntu. It cuts through the mess and ambiguity of using an open source Linux distribution."
-- James F. Koopmann, Linux.com


"Non-geeks will find that even doing geek-like things on Ubuntu Linux is not as hard as they once imagined. In fact, with books like this in the hands of non-geeks, the lines of distinction between geeks and non-geeks might just begin to blur!"
-- Sandra Henry-Stocker, ITworld


"This is a book Grant went over with care to make sure that it would appeal to the new and "repeat" reader alike...I highly recommend picking up this text if you've never used Ubuntu before."
-- James Pyles, CertForums



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"With its project-based approach to building the reader's knowledge, this book is truly a guidebook. In fact, it should almost become required reading to use Ubuntu. "
--James F. Koopmann, Linux.com