The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Test Driving Linux - for the bookshelf Major Keary |
O'Reilly, well known for its support of Linux, has published a 'test-drive' package, Test Driving Linux that has been designed to demonstrate a fully working Linux installation without leaving any trace of itself. There are a number of run-from-CD Linux distros, but they come naked: no printed documentation and sparse - if any - online instructions.
For a 'test drive' one does not want overly technical documentation, or information about the many options available in Linux distros, including a choice of user interfaces (the 'desktop').
The CD contains Move - a distro based on Mandrake - that has been designed to "boot any Windows computer into Linux" for the purpose of showing what Linux looks and feels like, and without interfering with Windows' settings. The Move CD loads a fixed selection of applications and utilities that include OpenOffice (which will enable the user to do almost anything that MS Office does); an image manipulation application, The GIMP (which works like Photoshop); GnuCash (similar to Quicken/MYOB) financial management application); the usual Internet connection applications (mail client, browser, and so on); an excellent CD/DVD burning utility; a full range of multimedia applications; and even games.
The object is to keep things as simple as possible, which the book/CD achieves. Test Driving Linux is designed for Windows users who want to explore Linux at an introductory level-without having to choose which desktop, which this, and which that -and with a good user manual.
There are a number of very good Linux-for-novice texts in print. Test Driving
Linux is different: it provides the Windows user with an opportunity to use a
fully operational Linux distro without the hassles of a formal installation. It
takes an unswerving line: this is the chosen setup, this is the chosen desktop,
these are the chosen applications. The manual walks the user through the
desktop, how to connect to the Internet, using the applications, and an
explanation of the command line.
Move is not designed to be installed on a hard disk, but the author provides a
very good rundown of several distros for permanent installation. Xandros gets a
recommendation.
It is also a good guide to the KDE desktop; people who are presently using a
Linux distro that installs KDE by default should have a look at the book as a
manual for that desktop system.
This title is an excellent hands-on introduction for new users, and a helpful
guide to those who are still coming to terms with Linux. The book will serve as
an ongoing manual, especially as it is one of the few texts that describes how
to use The GIMP and GnuCash. A great confidence builder and good value.
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David Brickner: Test Driving Linux ISBN 0-596-00754-X Published by O'Reilly, 341 pp. + CD, RRP $49.95 |
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Reprinted from the July 2005 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
