Customer Reviews

Linux: Configuration and Installation/Book and Cd

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

 

 

I never even heard of linux and then I bought this book and it was pretty good in installing. I did hear though that Slackware 3.3 has some security flaws so i downloaded 3.6. I had to do alot of guesswork, so this book is for intermediate to expert computer users. I found many of the applications in both the cd's to be very helpful.

I read this book from cover to cover and am still using it as a guide for building my new linux friendly computer. The depth it goes into on setting up Xfree86 and the touching on shell programming is awesome. The cd's were also a lifesaver and a resource to get software without searching all over the net. Id reccommend this book to any linux newbie.

If you're looking for a guide to Linux and a distribution that will work on an older computer with very little hard drive space, and only need to play around with it and not do anything terribly useful, then this may be the book for you. Otherwise, I suggest you look elsewhere.

While this may have been a helpful book at one time, this distribution is now very out of date. As the book focuses on the Slackware distribution included, it may or may not pertain to newer Slackware distributions or other distributions. The book includes the Slackware 3.3 distribution on a single CD.

I purchased this book as it was recommeneded as one of the few ways to get Linux on an old 486 laptop. I had no previous experience with Linux, but with this book and some helpful websites I was able to install it to the laptop. The laptop only had a floppy drive, requiring a floppy installation (about 2.5 hours). While I did learn much about Linux in this process, I didn't really make the computer much more useful than when it had Windows 3.1 installed (for my limited needs). I'm giving two stars because it did assist me in installing Linux.

Summary: The book and distribution are now out of date. The book does not necessarily stand on its own in guiding installation. Not recommended as an introduction to Linux as there MUST be better books out there now.

This book covers exactly what its name says it does. It is an in-depth tutorial and discussion of configuration and installation concerns with regard to the Slackware Linux operating system. Period. It doesn't cover commands or the X Window system to any great extent, but then again, it never claims to do so. It does provide a thorough examination of Linux installation. After reading this book (OK, after reading the first couple of chapters), I was able to install Linux with no problems on my home PC. I am still looking for a good command reference manual so that I'll be able to become proficient with this operating system. All in all, this is a great book as far as it goes.

At first I found this book very daunting, technically oriented, and not very newbie friendly. However, I found that if I re-read the chapters on installation and config before I touched my computer, it started to make more and more sense. This is an excellent book for those with a bit of computer experience (I would not recommend this to those who are quite new to computers and OSes). Following installation it is gives a quick overview of Linux functions and programs which should get the average person up and running.

The book does not teach you how install Linux step by step. per se .But guides you through an installation process. It has some useful sections, that will help "guide" the intermediate to advanced Linux user on installaing and configuring Linux. I found the 2-CD set packed with usable sofware. So the purchase price alone was worth it. If you are a novice at Linux installation, then this is not the book for you. However if you have at least some minimal experience with Linux setup , you'll find enough useful tips to get you up and running with minimal fuss.If you look closely you find a few glitches, but not many. I've installed other good Linux distrubtions and they were more error prone than this one. The CD installation has some automated tools to help make the steup and install process less of an anoyance. So kudos, a better than average guide.

This is the book for those people who want to install a linux into their system. The book dealed only with the installation and configuration, but it's not so comprehensive. More details should be included. The 2CDs contained a pretty good distribution of linux, worth to try it out.

This was the first Linux gook I bought. And although I learned some lessons from it, I wouldn't recommend it to the absolute beginner.

This book doesn't communicate with the reader well. I had to look back and forth for answers to my questions and only now(8 months later + 2 other linux books bought) begin to realize what I am doing.

Slackware is designed for people that are somewhat familiar with Linux/Unix, which most people are not. Knowing that, they should have been very careful in explaining things to users, which they were not.

In fairness, most Linux books emphasize what to do after Linux is installed, but the hardest part about Linux is getting past the beginning(install, kernel config, X, installing devices). Most books mention the beginning aspects so far apart that it easily confuses and discourages new users.

This book may be okay if you have a companion book on it(Linux for Dummies or TY Linux in 24 Hours), but don't expect overnight success with! ! linux using this book by itself.

This is the book that cleared a *LOT* of confusions I had about Linux. I'm not sure if this book would be that helpful for absolute beginners. By the time I came across this book, I already had floppy installed Slackware running on my computer. But if you have previous UNIX user (non-root) experience and want to be a Linux root to set up your system, this book would be a sure and quick way to get you way ahead. Persoanlly, a big thank you to Mr. Volkerding!

The software provided with the book is where the good things I have to say stop. Applications and the LINUX distribution were arranged exceptionally. The book itself seems to be an example of a quick new edition to make a quick buc k, while sacrificing editing. Many commands referenced in the procedures were incorrect. Even though the CD included distribution 3.3 the text referenced previous versions. My favorite overused phrase was "most users". Everytime he said this I cringed. Vague references were made to alternative procedure s based on setup, configuration and hardware then details were provided for the "most common method". I don't know how Mr. Volkerding determined who "most users" were, but not one time could I be included in that group. Some details of the book (XFree 86 configuration and system administration) we re sharp, but I have to give it an enthusiastic thumbs down. I was able to get LINUX up and running, but in most cases it was in spite of the advice offered in the book.