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Linux Annoyances for Geeks: Getting Linux the Way You Want It Without Getting Annoyed in the Process

April 26, 2006

Sebastopol, CA--There are some statements we can't quite believe: "We're from the government, we're here to help" or "The check is in the mail." In IT there are a few too: "We're going to finish the software on time." "We found the last of the bugs." "There's nothing annoying about ." So of course, no one actually needs Michael Jang's new book, Linux Annoyances for Geeks (O'Reilly, US $34.99), as no geek has ever found anything annoying about his or her Linux box .

Linux is the immensely popular operating system that is both extremely stable and reliable. But, let's be honest, it can also induce minor headaches at the most inopportune times if you're not fully up to speed with its capabilities. Sometimes, a small thing for a user--such as being able to play a CD or DVD--or for an administrator--such as updating an organization's systems from a central server--can make or break the adoption of Linux.

For Linux users and administrators who do have a minor glitch or want to make an improvement to their system, Jang's latest book will supply an abundance of tips and tricks for everything from making a recalcitrant wireless card work to using a boot disk to get past some pesky security "feature" in a pinch. Linux Annoyances for Geeks addresses the many poorly documented and underappreciated topics that make the difference between a system you struggle with and a system you really enjoy. This book is great for power users and system administrators who want to clear away barriers to using Linux for themselves and for dealing with less well-trained users in their organizations.

"To most of the world, all Linux users are geeks," muses Jang. "But there are users who don't even realize that they're using Linux at work, and users who have recently installed Linux for the first time. And, on the other hand, there are the users to whom everyone turns when they have a problem. This book is for that group of experts to help them solve the annoyances they find on the job.

"As Linux expands into new markets, geeks need help making systems efficient, dealing with newer users, and getting information quickly with courtesy," Jang adds. "This book will help geeks learn to deal with newer users while experiencing fewer annoyances. Any competent Linux geek can manage services. Finding better ways to deal with new users will help Linux take over the world!"

Jang has spent many hours trying out software in a wide range of environments and carefully documenting solutions for the most popular Linux distributions--Red Hat/Fedora, SUSE, and Debian/Ubuntu. Many of the topics presented here were previously undocumented or discussed only in obscure email archives. In Linux Annoyances for Geeks, Jang takes you along for a fun-filled ride as you master the system together.

Additional Resources:

Linux Annoyances for Geeks
Michael Jang
ISBN: 0-596-00801-5, 484 pages, $34.99 US
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000

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