World Famous Comics: Beginning SUSE Linux, Second Edition (Beginning: from Novice to Professional)
Beginning SUSE Linux, Second Edition (Beginning: from Novice to Professional)
By: Keir Thomas Publisher: Apress Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Apress Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 728 Publication Date: November 10, 2006
Written by award-winning author Keir Thomas, Beginning SUSE Linux, Second Edition is the comprehensive guide to openSUSE Linux 10.1, the community-created version of SUSE Linux.
The book starts with an introduction to the world of Linux and the open source community, and this is followed by an illustrated step-by-step guide to openSUSE installation and hardware configuration.
A special edition of openSUSE 10.1 is provided on the DVD-ROM that comes with the book. This version includes several additional items of proprietary software, as well as all the �devel� software packages, making for a comprehensive package.
The book shows how to wield total control over your newly installed operating system. It will guide you through system customization opportunities and common tasks like listening to audio CDs and MP3s, watching movies, and performing office- and Internet-related tasks. A large part of the book is dedicated to advanced command-line techniques necessary to maintain your system and become a true Linux master!
This second edition of the best-selling first edition has been boosted by 200 pages to over 700 in total, and has been completely revised and updated. Beginning SUSE Linux, Second Edition is the only print title to cover openSUSE 10.1.
Book is full of typos and errors As I am going through the book there are a bunch of errors and typos. There are some erratas on the Apress Site but not all. I have attempted to contact apress customer service about the issues, but only have recieved and automated response. After the author finishes his diatribe about Microsoft and the empire of evil, I find it funny the excuses he tells for the problems within SUSE Linux, apparently a blind fanboy that cannot see the cracks present. He also complains about people who give him negative reviews on his blog. Apparently, his book is perfect.
All in all, if you want to learn SUSE, it is an Ok place to start.
If you are really new to Linux, the included distro gets you started. However, once you get it installed and provided you are lucky enough that your problem is in the troubleshooting section (I had to google for days for my problem), then you will quickly run into your next problem in updatig the system. Chapter 9, page 168 has instructions but the URL that is given in step 4 is wrong. I tried the server suse.mirrors.tds.net instead of the listed server, and that worked. Everything about the update process is painfully slow, so run it overnight before you go to bed or when you have time to kill. The first update downloaded 495 updates, so it took a long time.
I am up and running after days of problem after problem and have made it mostly through the book and have highlighter marks to errors I have found.
I would say if this is your first Linux attempt, still give it a try but expect problems during the install and with the book but you should still get you through -- I would recommend it used with the CD if you can find it.
Your all around review... I've noticed that someone had stated that this book is biased towards Microsoft. That is somewhat true, the author has compared GNU/Linux/OpenSUSE to Microsoft. Why because Microsoft is the dominate OS made these days and shipped with computers, so why not compare GNU/Linux against Microsoft? He could have compared to MAC, but then I wouldn't have known any of the comparison because I find MAC to be crap... But anyways; sure a Microsoft Fanboy says it's bias, but it's actually just comparison.
What makes this book really good is that you do learn EVERYTHING about OpenSUSE. Which in tern you learn a lot about Linux because the two main Linux distros is RHEL and OpenSUSE. The guy that rated this book low uses Fedora which is at its best unstable. I'll let it be known when I started using Fedora/Linux and all the problems I ran into using Fedora made me not want to use Linux at all, but then I just realized that Fedora sucks...
Anyways to move on about what this book does is it shows you all the alternative programs that you're so used to in Windows that are on Linux for FREE.
Do not get me wrong, I like XP... I hate Vista... I hate MAC's... But with all honesty to get out of this intertwining BS go w/ Linux you do not have to deal w/ pathetic Fanboys.
Not to mention the fact that Linux does not crash(which is what makes Windows suck (although I've never had a crash)) and it isn't slow (Boy one reason why MAC sucks).
So with all honestly definitely get this book if you want to learn Linux you will NOT regret it.
Oh and one more thing, the guy that gave this book a bad review stated something about the version of OpenSUSE that came with the book wasn't good enough for something (he said version 10.1 I think?) well you can go online and download 10.3 (or 11) free of charge.
Enjoy your embark into Linux, and believe me you will NOT be disappointed!
Really helped this newbie Well this isn't the first time i have tried to learn Linux. Being a long time Windows user, it's always been a struggle to get Linux under my belt. One of the biggest hurdles has always been hardware support. Compared to Windows, Linux can sometimes be a real chore to get drivers for. I recently tried OpenSUSE and was really impressed with what i saw. But my first stumbling block was the wireless driver. My house is just not set up to have CAT5 running around. I HAD to get the wireless working. I was struggling with this for weeks, following all the online advice, nothing was working. I decided to order Beginning SUSE after reading some of the reviews. I'll be darned if Mr. Thomas' advice didn't get me over the hump. It was very exciting to see my wireless activity finally kicking in! I have now read the book cover to cover and picked up a plethora of skills. My system is now dual booting with Linux/Windows XP, networked with my household Windows computers, printing to a shared Windows printer... It's a very exciting change and i must say for me, Mr. Thomas' book is what made the difference.
Good beginner book on SLED If you can put aside the Microsoft bashing and just go through the material it has just about everything you want in a beginner book for SLED. I recommend this book to friends and colleagues looking to take their first jump into the world of Linux.
Best SUSE Linux book I've seen. Unlike other SUSE books I've read, this has answered all my questions so far. There is even advice on improving Linux fonts and an entire chapter on the BASH shell (with an appendix of BASH commands). Also, a short history of Linux and OSS. Book has a somewhat pro-Linux anti-MS tone. Makes a handy reference for looking things up.
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