Linux Toys II: 9 Cool New Projects for Home, Office, and Entertainment (ExtremeTech) [Paperback]

Christopher Negus (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764579959 | ISBN-13: 978-0764579950 | Publication Date: November 7, 2005

• Builds on the success of the original Linux Toys, with new projects you can build using different Linux distributions
• All-new toys in this edition include a MythTV entertainment center, eMoviX bootable home movies, a BZFlag game client and server, and an Icecast Internet radio station, plus five more.
• Companion Web site, LinuxToys.net, provides information for further enhancing your Linux Toys II projects
• Includes a CD-ROM with scripts, packages, and code for the projects

Editorial Reviews

Review

“…will be a hit with all those Linux geeks out there that bought (and loved) the first one.” (Publishing News, 25th March 2005)

From the Back Cover

The Linux toyshop just added a new wing

Tired of playing with your old Linux toys? Wait 'til you see what Chris Negus has cooked up for you now! How about a Web-based Gallery server for sharing digital images over a network? A slick MythTV personal video recorder entertainment center? Automating gadgets and home lighting with X10? Or recycling used PCs into powerful thin-client work- stations? Turn an old PC into a new toy, or even create your own customized Damn Small Linux that fits in your pocket! Boot up the Linux Toys II CD, and you can start playing within five minutes.

The new toys
Each with a complete materials list, all necessary software, and detailed, illustrated instructions

1. Gallery Web photo server
2. MythTV entertainment center PVR
3. eMoviX bootable home movies
4. Customized Damn Small Linux pen drive
5. X10 lighting and gadget controller
6. BZFlag game client and server
7. Custom Devil-Linux firewall
8. Icecast Internet radio station
9. LTSP thin-client server

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 397 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (November 7, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764579959
• ISBN-13: 978-0764579950
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,318,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christopher Negus has been one of the world's leading writers of Linux books for nearly a decade. His Red Hat Linux Bible series has sold more than one-quarter million copies worldwide. Chris also authored or coauthored the books Linux Bible (2005 through 2007 editions), Linux Toys, Linux Toys II, and Linux Troubleshooting Bible for Wiley Publishing. For Prentice Hall, Chris is the editor of the Negus Live Linux Series and author of that series' flagship book, Live Linux CDs. Before becoming a full-time author, Chris Negus worked on UNIX operating system development teams at AT&T Bell Labs, UNIX System Labs, and Novell in the 1980s and 1990s. In particular, Chris worked in the areas of UNIX system administration and networking. When not working on computer books, Chris likes to spend time with his family: Sheree, Seth, and Caleb. Chris also enjoys playing soccer, singing opera (when nobody can hear him), and making things out of old computers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dated after only four years, November 2, 2009

By 

Jerry Saperstein (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Linux Toys II: 9 Cool New Projects for Home, Office, and Entertainment (ExtremeTech) (Paperback)

Chris Negus is an excellent writer and one of the most knowledgeable Linux people to be found. He wrote "Linux Toys" in 2003 and he is the first to admit that it is now completely outmoded. "Linux Toys II" was published in 2005 and in only four years, it is showing its age. A testament to the rapidly evolving Linux and electronics worlds to be sure, but something of a disappointment to anyone hoping to expand their knowledge of Linux through the creation of practical projects.

The projects didn't require any great smarts to begin with: all the software needed was provided on the DV bound with the book.

Additional hardware was required for some of the projects and it is a pleasant surprise to how the prices of components have declined. For example, "Creating a Personal Video Recorder with Myth TV" was projected to cost $943. Today with a much more powerful CPU and bigger hard drives, the project would cost substantially less. But the reality is that MythTV is a far less appealing project today than it was yesterday because DVRs have become so commonplace. Also, the MythTV software has changed considerably.

The "Customizing A Live Linux Pen Drive" project was reasonably applicable in 2005. Today, directions for doing this project are everywhere and the process itself has become simplified as more publishers have adapted their software to flash drive.

Other projects such as setting up an Internet Radio Station and controlling X10 devices would have little appeal to most people.

Like I said, Chris Negus is an excellent writer, so there is something that can be learned from this book currently - but there is nothing here that can't be found in other books or on the web. I bought a used copy for a few dollars on Amazon, so I don't feel like I've wasted money. Still, having breezed through the book once, I don't think I'll be reading it again.

Jerry

5.0 out of 5 stars Catalyze your creativity, June 1, 2011

By 

T. E. Schlemmer "Schlem" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Linux Toys II: 9 Cool New Projects for Home, Office, and Entertainment (ExtremeTech) (Paperback)

Slightly out-of-date, but the nuts and bolts of the content are enlightening and stimulating. If anything, the possibilities are exploding as GNU/Linux supports more and more devices and plays better and better with the non-Linux world. I want to get the first edition purely for the ideas and design processes that are discussed.

Only criticism (again, age-related) is that the included Distro (Damn Small Linux) - while still handy and relevant - is no longer active and you might want to employ a different distro(s) for your projects. TinyCore is the heir apparent to DSL, but with all the cheap memory and processor power, you can use just about anything you want.

Great book!

4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!, February 23, 2006

By 

Black Knight "~TBK" (Tejas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Linux Toys II: 9 Cool New Projects for Home, Office, and Entertainment (ExtremeTech) (Paperback)

This book is filled with GREAT information for anyone interested in working with various 'toys' for Linux. I was privileged in being part of a class presented by Tom Weeks in regards to MythTV (he assisted with the chapter in the book) and it is great information!

If you are interested in getting the latest information for various additions to your Linux box, then this is a must-have. If you are even interested in any extra features you can configure on your Linux box then you will not be disappointed!

WARNING: Your pocket book might suffer after reading this book from all the new hardware you want to buy!