BKUSLINX.RVW 950518 "Using Linux", Jack Tackett/David Gunter/Lance Brown, 1995, 0-7897-0100-6, U$49.99/C$67.99/UK#46.99 %A Jack Tackett 70312.132@compuserve.com %A David Gunter gunter@vnet.net 73237.2551@compuserve.com %A Lance Brown lance@circle.raleigh.nc.us %C 201 W. 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290 %D 1995 %G 0-7897-0100-6 %I Que Corporation %O U$49.99/C$67.99/UK#46.99 800-858-7674 75141.2102@compuserve.com %P 860 %T "Using Linux" What most people want to know about Linux is how to install it. Chunks of the installation material contained in this book came from the Linux Documentation Project files. Not just the information, though--whole paragraphs are copied almost verbatim. While this may be rather hard on the Project authors, it is good for the reader. The original content is disorganized, usually written at an inappropriate level, and of questionable accuracy. The book includes a subset of the InfoMagic Slackware 2.0 distribution (kernel versions 1.0.9 and 1.1.18). While over-explaining some points (you have no business installing Linux if you don't know what a "hard drive" is), the instructions assume the use of a slackware "fill in the blanks" installation program, and don't even mention filesystem creation until chapter twenty-six. Internet connection is assumed in chapters sixteen to twenty, but not explained (and then, tersely) until after chapter twenty-eight. While none of the background information (particularly on UNIX) is flatly wrong, most of it gives a rather distorted picture. The parts of the book dealing with running UNIX have some tutorial value, but vary in depth and are quite subjective. A lot of space is given to documenting, sometimes casually and sometimes in detail, different programs. A thoroughly mixed bag. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1995 BKUSLINX.RVW 950518 ====================== ROBERTS@decus.ca, RSlade@sfu.ca, Rob Slade at 1:153/733 RSlade@cyberstore.ca "So, concerning the above message, you think Rob Slade is responsible?" "Heavens, no! I think Rob Slade is terribly *ir*responsible!" Author "Robert Slade's Guide to Computer Viruses" 0-387-94311-0/3-540-94311-0