Discover Linux

Filled with almost useless screen shots of freeware applications running under Linux and highlighted URLs that lead to Linux-related sites, Discover Linux leaves the reader wondering what happened to the meaty information that these pages ought to contain. Oualline goes into some detail about important commands and outlines the steps to follow in order to accomplish key tasks, but it's not enough.

The best part of Discover Linux is the beginning, which contains a guide to installing the operating system and configuring it for your purposes. The book also has a good discussion of backup procedures and of how to get help from Linux's online resources. The back of the book includes a minimalist command reference and the Discover series' characteristic "Visual Index," which explains how to use graphical interface elements. The companion CD-ROM includes Red Hat Linux 4.2, a newly obsolete version of Linux that this and other books are still distributing.