Customer Reviews

Linux at Work: Building Strategic Applications for Business

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

If you want to program or administer Linux, this book is nor for you. However, if you want concise information about Linux, its applicability and business strategies, as well as an OS comparison, a very, I mean very extensive list of Linux resources, then you need to read this book!

If you want to have a book to read just before going to bed, then get this book. Although it is amusing to read, you get no real benefit out of it. My recommondation is you could do better.

The author did an excellent job in profiling Linux for business applications. Throughout the book, the tone was serious, yet relaxing, very conversational, with lots of tips and URL for those seeking additional information on a particular subject. This book is not for technical people, but does a great job explaining to management what Linux brings to the table.

This book has a good overview of Linux for business. The section describing the many different business applications already available is very useful. Also useful is the huge (and detailed) list of Linux consultants, which to me was worth the money. The case studies could have been more detailed and less technical. Worth the money anyway.

The book is rich on valuable information, from a comprehensive list of Linux consultants, and case studies of major companies adopting it to cultural and technical issues for when deciding to adopt Linux.

The book also brings an interesting chapter on Why Microsoft needs Linux and a list of Linnux resources on the Web and USENET. Not for techies though.

Author would on one page lecture the "CIO" reader on how to give all IT decisions to their system administrators. The next page would recommend a book on how to jump into the Linux kernel.

I wanted a "State of the union" book on Linux, it's application in business, the applications that were available, and other general information.

The text was too casual and virtuous, making it very difficult to read. Instead the book focused on the virtues of the Linux development community and jokes about free pizza. These may be great, but not what the title and intro said the book would be about.

In my opinion, this book is not for CIO's, IT consultants, or technical readers.

The book did have interesting, although completely technical, examples of large companies that did use Linux. It also had approx 100 pages of consultants listed in the back if you are looking for that sort of thing.

My advice, keep looking,

Mike

This is pretty low-grade stuff. While I applaud the credentials and spirit of the writer, I was saddened by the tone of the book. It read like a summary of how Linux will instill peace,love, and happiness the world over.

A little less worship of Linux, a little more Strategy would've helped immensely. 100+ pages of resources and consultants ? An entire chapter on "Care and feeding of a sysadmin" ...good lord.

As an IS manager, if you took this book to me to prove Linux a viable solution, I'd laugh you out the door. This book feels like it was written to jump on the Linux bandwagon. More thought was necessary in the development.

Open Disclosure: I helped prepare the first four chapters of the book and the "Care and feeding of a Linux System Administrator". So for that I put the rating where the average seems to be.

Reviewers who feel the book is not technical are correct. When the book was in process the world really knew little about Linux and the average business decision maker knew even less. Netware, OS/2, and Windows for Workgroups ruled the day and that's what corporate decision makers were used to. Those tools had significant vendor support in training, manuals, and for pay support.

In the 90's Linux introduced a new paradigm (obligatory business speak) that said "You have control". It broke the absolute dependance on the vendor for support resolution and new code fixes. It provided tools that required creativity and imagination to use, not just another training class. Business leaders needed to know what was there for them and Marcus sought to give them an introduction that covered several possible needs.

The world has changed, and for the better, in my not overly humble opinion. While I'd love to take some of the credit it really belongs to the early managers who were brazen enough to give Linux a try and brave enough to hang on for the wild ride that followed.

The value of the information presented in the book is just not worth the price. The title "Building Strategic Applications for Business" is somewhat misleading. Read again the comments of the reviewers who gave this book one star and BELIEVE THEM.

The book is rich on valuable information, from a comprehensive list of Linux consultants, and case studies of major companies adopting it to cultural and technical issues for when deciding to adopt Linux.

The book also brings an interesting chapter on Why Microsoft needs Linux and a list of Linnux resources on the Web and USENET. Not for techies though.