Customer Reviews

LINUX for Dummies Quick Reference

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

All very sketchy and definitely not something that will take you all the way through any part of the Linux system. Even as a new user, I was finding holes in the instructions (weakest areas: setting up e-mail, online connections)and the author's obvious biases (one page on Emacs, but six or seven on vi). It has some useful references for the well-known commands, but even if that's all you want, you'd be better off buying a more complete reference work.

I was hoping for a manual that provided more of a quick reference to both the basic wokings and commands of Linux than an intro to the various apps found within that OS, such as emacs, vi and pico. Knowing how to network, send email and FTP is all good, but those are topics that should be explained in greater detail in a regular IDG book, not skimmed over in a quick-guide.

I recently bought this for the IS manager that will replace me in weeks to come. I bought it for what it was intended to be. A "Quick Referance". This is not a book that will describe exact procedures, or how to negotiate your way through extedned server calls. It's great for someone with a working knowledge of Linux that finds themself asking "What was that command again?".

A strange and thrown together book. The most disturbing aspect being that the book dosen't really describe the included software. Long on theory and short on precise syntax, not well cross referenced and even the "Cheat Sheet" in front was of little help. I think most Linux users already know the *WHY* but a newbie needs exact and precise descriptions of what to input. On the plus side, the book would help take the edge off of the anxiety someone who had never heard of Linux (or computers) might be expected to feel. I found it money wasted.

I bought this awhile back when I first started with Linux a few years back.
This is a Reference book. If you are trying to learn about Linux get the Full book not this one. If you already know Linux and just need to be able to look stuff up quick, this is the book for you.

The "quick reference" in the title means that it's a reference, a tool, not a tutorial on when and why to use commands.

It's best function is explaining switches on commands. If you've ever wondered "I wonder if I can get grep to do THAT?" or "I wonder how to plug in sed here?" then this is the book for you. Any deeper knowledge required and you'll need to get one of the other books on Linux introduction.

And the author's preference for vi over EMACS isn't really proven, it's just that some of the more esoteric of commands in vi are not readily apparent, but lend themselves to description in a quick reference. I mean if you feel threatened by vi, please, by all means, use EMACS ;-)

It's not that bad, very usefull