Linux For Dummies, 9th Edition [Paperback]

Richard Blum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 10, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0470467010 | ISBN-13: 978-0470467015 | Edition: 9

One of the fastest ways to learn Linux is with this perennial favorite

Eight previous top-selling editions of Linux For Dummies can't be wrong. If you've been wanting to migrate to Linux, this book is the best way to get there. Written in easy-to-follow, everyday terms, Linux For Dummies 9th Edition gets you started by concentrating on two distributions of Linux that beginners love: the Ubuntu LiveCD distribution and the gOS Linux distribution, which comes pre-installed on Everex computers. The book also covers the full Fedora distribution.

• Linux is an open-source operating system and a low-cost or free alternative to Microsoft Windows; of numerous distributions of Linux, this book covers Ubuntu Linux, Fedora Core Linux, and gOS Linux, and includes them on the DVD.
• Install new open source software via Synaptic or RPM package managers
• Use free software to browse the Web, listen to music, read e-mail, edit photos, and even run Windows in a virtualized environment
• Get acquainted with the Linux command line

If you want to get a solid foundation in Linux, this popular, accessible book is for you.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Feature-rich, fast, and free — what's not to love about Linux?

You're going to love Linux, the open-source operating system that lets you create documents, browse the Web, work with audio and video files, and everything else you need without tossing your wallet out the windows. This easy-to-use guide tells you what you need to know to get a Linux desktop system installed, personalized, and working just for you!

• Start here — if you're new to Linux, learn what it is, how it works, and how to install it on your computer

• Get to know the GNOME — and the KDE®, the two Linux desktops

• Now the fun begins — enjoy music, video, and games; use the GIMP image editor; explore the Internet; and make Skype phone calls

• Got work to do? — use the word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software suite from OpenOffice.org

• A teeny bit techie — discover how to handle file formats, create and manage user accounts, secure your system, and use virtual servers

Open the book and find:

• What "open source" means and how it works

• When to consider a dual boot installation

• An overview of different Linux distributions

• How to use the Linux filesystem

• Tips for adding software to Linux

• Troubleshooting advice

• How to burn CDs and listen to Internet radio

• Cool Google Gadgets and how to add them to your desktop

Bonus DVD Includes
ISOs of Ubuntu Linux 9.04 and Fedora Core 11 Preview Edition for you to try

Please see the DVD appendix for details and complete system requirements.

About the Author

Richard Blum has been both a systems and network administrator over the past 20 years. He has administered UNIX, Linux, Novell, and Microsoft servers, and has helped design and maintain a 3,500-user network. Richard is an expert in working with and programming Linux.

Product Details

• Paperback: 456 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 9 edition (August 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470467010
• ISBN-13: 978-0470467015
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,957 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Computers & Technology > Operating Systems > Linux

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, November 9, 2009

By 

Ellon (Grand Cayman B.W. Indies) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Linux For Dummies, 9th Edition (Paperback)

I have worked with computers for several years now, with my experience being with Microsoft Windows. I am new to the Linux world and have always been interested in knowing more after hearing such stories as Linux running for years without requiring a reboot as well as having many security systems run on Linux due to its security and wanting to get more into security in my career.
Having not known anything about Linux I can honestly say that Richard Blum did an excellent job in writing this book. The way in which Richard explains things in layman terms makes it easy for just about anyone with some knowledge of computers to understand and feel comfortable learning Linux.
I strayed away from the for Dummies series some years back when I purchased a Network+ for Dummies and it did not meet the usual simple explanations I came to expect from the Dummies series but, Richard Blum and the Linux For Dummies, 9th Edition has restored my faith in the Dummies series books.
For some time now I have not enjoyed reading computer related books and mostly did so because I had to and not because I wanted to but, I have really enjoyed reading this book. I would recommend purchasing this book to anyone new to Linux with a bit of computer knowledge looking to tap into what Linux has to offer.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For Dummies!, February 21, 2011

By 

Melvin "Hamburger" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Linux For Dummies, 9th Edition (Paperback)

I read this book even before I started with my Fedora 14 Linux, 4-disks DVD Installation and Reference Set, Ed.2011. As another reviewer mentioned, this book deals mostly with Linux graphical interfaces: GNOME and KDE. While I agree that it takes much more than mastering GNOME skills to claim knowledge of Linux, this book actually gives a prospective, explains in very simple language some concepts and serves as a friendly introduction to Linux computer. It provides that basic layer of knowledge that helps not to be overwhelmed by Linux. Can you be without it? Yes, sure, you can get roughly the same info from browsing GUI of installed Linux system, and reading help. But it can be said about almost any other book. If you need an intro to Linux for a complete dummy, this book will provide. I also learned from it some basic ways that helped in my first two days of Linux.
The distros that come on bundled DVD are horribly old and outdated and for this reason I took one star off the rating. It has no drivers for any newer computers and for the reason I purchased Fedora set as mentioned before.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good intro for ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS to Linux., March 3, 2011

By 

Tek - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Linux For Dummies, 9th Edition (Paperback)

I read this book cover to cover hoping to learn a bit more about Linux than I've learned from just poking around on my own. In all honestly, I didn't learn a ton from this book that I didn't already know. I can't, however, blame the book for that. It is directed at people who are new to Linux. If you aren't incredibly tech savvy and want to jump into Linux (this is probably a minority demographic) then this is the book for you. If you're the average person getting into Linux who can handle booting to a Ubuntu CD and clicking your way through an install with half an ounce of intelligence then you can probably figure out just as much as this book teaches you on your own.