Distributions

Red Hat Linux for Dummies

Format: Paperback
Author: Jon Hall
ReleaseDate: November, 1999
Publisher: For Dummies
Rating:

Great for complete beginners to Linux
It teaches basic commands to navigate and very basically run a personal RH Linux machine. This title, as it suggests, is great for the complete newcomer to Red Hat Linux, and it focuses on those migrating from Windows operating systems.

DON'T buy this book looking for a resource that will show you how to administer a Linux machine. DON'T buy this book looking for a resource that will show you how to set up a Web/e-mail/FTP/SSH, etc. server.

DO buy this book if you have never really used a Linux machine, and are looking for an introduction. DO buy this book if you are sick of Windows and are looking around to see what other opportunities are available.

Once again, this book serves as an excellent resource for beginning Linux, but don't expect it to offer any more than that.

Not a great guide
e. This book makes too many assumptions - i. that you want to run Linux alongside Windows on a partitioned HD and having a workstation alternative - which you may not.

I am interested in a developement environment. The appendix hardly has any references to "Apache" or "Web Server" - and only covers one kind of install.

They never address if you would like Linux as the only OS. Many of us have 100mhz clunkers that we're willig to wipe Win95/98 off of.

I'm interested in having a local web server to test CGI's write code, and more. The book falls short. In fact I had to go out the O'Reilly Running Linux.

I'm still getting frustrated trying to have Apache on the machine with the Gnome install. This book offers nothing in the way of setting up a web server (or very little to be exact!).

Book fails its fundamental function
In the installation process, you don't even get to see all the screens they describe. As technical documentation, this book fails because no matter how carefully you follow the instructions, you can't get the task done. Also, this book warns you against installing Linux side-by-side with Windows, then describes ONLY that scenario! Against the backdrop of such fundamental flaws, the approach of the Dummies series is about as cute as a rattlesnake.