Sebastopol, CA--The recent announcement by the city of Stockholm that it would be switching to Linux makes it only the latest in an ever lengthening list of governments and corporations large and small to make the shift to the open source operating system. Research firms are constantly telling us that Linux use is increasing in both the server and desktop markets.
All those newcomers need to be welcomed, supported, informed, and educated. As Matthias Kalle Dalheimer, one of the authors of Running Linux, Fifth Edition (Dalheimer and Welsh, O'Reilly, US $49.95), says, "More and more non-technical people are moving to Linux from Windows, and they need to be well received and shown that while Linux is a new world--a world in which those who are willing to do their part of the thinking will thrive best--it is still a friendly world, with a wealth of tools and applications to help."
He believes his book can help. "Way too many books about Linux tell you to 'push that button' or 'type that command,' without explaining what you are actually doing. Linux is for people who like to do things themselves, like to be able to help themselves, so a book is needed that explains what goes on under the hood."
Dalheimer also feels that the information is increasingly important. "Honestly, there's probably going to be a time in the not-too-distant future when not knowing about Linux in a technical job will seriously affect the chances of your job application being considered. And I am not just talking about programmers or system administrators."
By many accounts, Running Linux is considered the classic text on installing, learning to use, and maintaining a Linux system. The new fifth edition is much bigger than any of the previous ones, reflecting the maturity of the operating system and the teeming wealth of software available for it, and includes topics such as desktop tools that only made cursory appearances earlier. Other topics such as audio and video playback applications, groupware functionality, and spam filtering are covered, along with the basics in configuration and management that have always made the book popular.
No book can adequately capture everything there is to know about Linux, but as Dalheimer and Welsh explain, "We've tried to ask at each turn what information is most valuable for a person exploring the system and trying to get a firm basis for further self-education."
The book was written for a broad audience, including readers who may be contemplating their first Linux installation or those who have been using Linux for years and need to know more about adding a network printer or configuring Linux for ADSL. Widely recognized in the Linux community as the ultimate getting-started and problem-solving book, it answers the questions and tackles configuration issues that frequently plague users, but are seldom addressed in other books.
Novices and experienced Linux users will appreciate the authors' clear discussions and instructions in areas such as basic communication (email, web surfing, instant messaging), office suites, and personal productivity applications. Other new topics include encrypted mail and filesystems, advanced shell techniques, and remote login applications. The classic discourses on booting, package management, kernel recompilation, and X configuration have also been updated.
Whether they're are using Linux on a home workstation or maintaining a network server, readers will find expert advice in Running Linux just when they need it.
Praise for the previous edition:
"A classic guide upgrades to stay current and reflect changes without sacrificing its accessibility and mastery...the content is excellent for beginners and for those who have been at Linux for a while...Running Linux really is one of the ultimate Linux manuals."
--Russell J.T. Dyer, Linux Journal
Running Linux, Fifth Edition
Matthias Kalle Dalheimer and Matt Welsh
ISBN: 0-596-00760-4, 951 pages, $49.95 US
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