The Ubuntu Beginner's Guide - Fifth Edition (Computer Beginner's Guides) [Kindle Edition]

Jonathan Moeller (Author)

Book Description

The Ubuntu Beginner's Guide (Fifth Edition) gives users new to Ubuntu Linux an overview of the operating system, from simple command-line tasks to advanced server configuration.

In the Guide, you'll learn how to:

-Use the Ubuntu command line.

-Manage users, groups, and file permissions.

-Install software on a Ubuntu system, both from the command line and the GUI.

-Configure network settings.

-Use the vi editor to edit system configuration files.

-Install and configure a Samba server for file sharing.

-Install SSH for remote system control using public key/private key encryption.

-Install a DHCP server for IP address management.

-Install a LAMP server.

-Install web applications like WordPress and Drupal.

-Configure an FTP server.

-Manage ebooks.

-Convert digital media.

-Manage and configure Unity, the default Ubuntu environment.

-Manage and halt processes from the command line.

-Manage PDF files and office documents from the command line.

-And many other topics.

Product Details

• File Size: 573 KB
• Print Length: 196 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004Y1NMDI
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,770 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #4 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Computers & Technology > Operating Systems
  • #7 in Books > Computers & Technology > Operating Systems > Linux

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely for beginners, not for total non-techs June 26, 2011

By S. Fieldstone

Format:Kindle Edition

I consider myself pretty tech-savy and I've tried Ubuntu 4 or 5 times, but seem to always get to a point where there's one small thing keeping me from doing what I need to do. After hours of Googling, I give up. This book has filled in those missing pieces.

First, this book is not for a person who's a beginner in regards to technology...it assumes some tech experience and a willingness to explore technology. This is not a book designed for someone who wants to replace Windows with Ubuntu and stay solely in the GUI. For example, I would not give this book to my grandmother to teach her how to use Ubuntu to check email and send forwards.

In fact, it focuses mainly on doing things through the command interface, which to be honest has been a fantastic way for me to learn how things work behind the scenes of the GUI. The book does a great job of teaching concepts behind Ubuntu, a brief history of Linux, and the basic commands to get around. This is a book meant for someone who is a beginner to Ubuntu...and it makes no illusions otherwise. In fact, he honestly states that a lot of these topics are the most frequent questions on his Ubuntu blog. I paid $.99 for it, and in that regard, it's 5 stars.

However, Chapter 4 was where the light bulb went on for me and it started talking about installing software. I understood how to do this in the past, but for some reason it just never clicked. Reading it in the book suddenly made sense. This is the kind of book where each person could have the same experience at different places in the book...as I said before, it fills in the missing pieces.

I appreciate that the author is not trying to cram 3 concepts into 600 pages. The book is a relatively quick and easy read, covers a good base of information, does not talk down to people who don't yet know Linux, and does it all for a great price. In my opinion, this book does exactly what it set out to do and at $.99 is a fantastic "1st book on Linux" for someone to read before digging into a much more in-depth book such as "Ubuntu Unleashed" (which is next on my reading/reference list!).

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars read this book first August 9, 2011

By Kiwi

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a newbie to Ubuntu this book was exactly the guiding hand I needed. Much more helpful as a first book than the official guide. It removed the murkiness around installing software at the commandline. You are sure to find yourself downloading and installing at least one of the top 7 recommended applications.
The author writes clearly and concisely focussing on the practical things you will want to do with Ubuntu whether for desktop or server purposes. The book assumes no prior Linux knowledge. As a newbie to Ubuntu this will be invaluable to you. When the author writes another Ubuntu book I will surely buy it.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a world of possibilities opening up Linux FOSS August 19, 2011

By Mark D. Wiygul

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Recommended to the newcomer who is willing to use a command line to accomplish powerful tasks. This ebook opens up the world of Open Source Linux possibilities beyond simply web browsing, chatting, emailing and other computer usage for entertainment consumption. It belongs in the hands of someone who may one day aspire to use their computer as a tool for the purposes of that of the "Producer", a forgotten concept.

Rather than simply dishing out cryptic command line usage for file manipulation the reader will be exposed to a wealth of application for their command line typing. A reader will quickly want to try their hand with networking another computer at home, setting up a SAMBA server to share data with Windows PCs, or administer other Linux computers using SSH (if not at work, then for their spouses and kids computers at home).

The reader will learn about FTP but then forgo it's usage in favor of its much more secure counterpart discussed in the next chapters, SFTP. Imagine pulling pictures and videos, or office documents off s computer at home while at the inlaws or friends.

Setup a LAMP Content Management System for hosting a webserver using one of the ebooks recommendations such as WordPress, MediaWiki or Drupal (web applications), What entrepreneurial activity might the reader pursue. ...setting up a blogsite or wiki style data contribution and access site, for the whole world to enjoy.

It's critical that a user be aware of the application of the command line in addition to the studious usage of it. This ebook spawns the creative mind by concisely focusing on the former rather than the later. There isn't enough information to be useful as a guide for running any one of those systems. Its enlightening the beginner to the existence of the potential they can reach is invaluable nevertheless. At the very least this should spawn further pursuits and reading elsewhere after boot-up and Wow!

Another valuable reason to start tinkering with the command line right away is that its usage predominates the entire Linux world of computing, and mastering it on Ubuntu means proficiency on other sibling systems. And, investing too much effort in learning the ins and outs of specific GUI applications beyond the ones that are already self-explanatory and used daily just means wasted time as they change day by day, and no two systems, even Ubuntu, are usually found with the same nest of programs one encounters. They certainly change every 6 months or so.

Even if someone only seeks to be entertained by their computer and plans to type as little on the command line entry as possible, this is their book, as it goes over important configuration details that Ubuntu users will need to know in order to engage their videos, music, pdfs or other licensed data. There is complete chapter for the GAMING, how to run Windows software with WINE, and of course another on EBooks and editing. At $0.99 these chapters alone make the price worthwhile.

Once enthused by the the possibilities of your Linux machine you should get additional supplementary reading materials. "Working at the Ubuntu Command Line (Linux Nitty Gritty)" also priced $0.99 by Keir Thomas is an invaluable introduction to the command line. It offers greater depth of discussion on commands while being brief as possible. The user will really begin feeling comfortable with command control after reading this. Combined these two ebooks are the perfect complement to each other. The make the for the perfect introductory crash course on Linux featuring the Ubuntu distribution.

More About the Author

Standing over six feet tall, Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.

He has written the DEMONSOULED series of sword-and-sorcery novels, the TOWER OF ENDLESS WORLDS urban fantasy series, THE GHOSTS series about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the COMPUTER BEGINNER'S GUIDE sequence of computer books, and numerous other works.

Visit his website at:

http://www.jonathanmoeller.com

Visit his technology blog at:

http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/screed