There are many "introduction to Linux" files available for download on the Internet, so buying a book would be unnecessary.
There have been many improvements to the underlying operation of Linux since 2005, so a more up to date distribution would be advisable.
*Every* Linux distribution has a very robust command line capability. In addition, there are a variety of command shells you can choose from. One I am particularly fond of, especially for new users, is called "fish"--available to download and install in most distribution repositories.
The DOS command interpreter, by the way, was a dumbed-down interpretation of UNIX command shells of 20 or so years ago. By contrast, UNIX/Linux commands are far more flexible and sophisticated, but obviously much more complex to learn because of all the choices and variations.
If you want to run a Linux system without installing it on your hard drive, instead of running from a CD I suggest instead running from a USB flash drive. Many of the most popular distributions can be installed on a thumb drive or other portable USB-connected media by a very nice little utility called "unetbootin"
If all you want to do is run command line Linux for now, you might consider a small distribution such as Puppy or Damn Small Linux, both of which are supported via unetbootin among many others.
Personally, though, I would go with a distribution that has a large repository of pre-configured program binaries.
David
LINUX_Newbies@
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> I want to thank those that responded to my first post to this group under New Member (Sun Nov 29). I am thinking about ordering "Knoppix For Dummies 2005 -with a DVD" According to the books description, I could run Knoppix without installing it into my XP computer.
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> Because of all of the different Linux flavors (and I do not know what the differences are), I choose Knoppix mainly because I could get it in a dummy book.
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> The main reasons why I want to try Linux, is because of my past awful experiences in working with MS Windows. It has been a difficulty since I started with Windows 3.1 back in the early 1990's. The difficulty had a lot to do with the constant upgrading and of course it's commercialism.
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> At one point I started to study DOS, and I love learning and using commands in a complete text world, but unfortuanaly I was forced to upgrade the computer to a latter Windows OS and no longer was DOS being supported. I was unhappy when I realized that everything I learn in DOS turned out to be a waste of time. And each Windows OS upgrade brought more problems.
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> Finally, I started to search and read about vintage computers and their operating systems and that is when I noticed that the word UNIX, kept showing up. I then found a way to download a Unix telnet program that could work in Windows XP. Shortly after, I found a Unix server and I began studying Unix from a book. (The only problem I have with this Unix program "Puddytel" is that it does not work when I am off line). But I must say Unix is intriguing and it is amazing seeing the internet through LYNX.
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> Graphics are great, but only when you need them!
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> Questions:
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> * I wonder if Knoppix will come with a Unix program with a command line?
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> * If I am using Knoppix or another Linux OS, could I control & navigate throughout the OS from a command line?
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> * Is the relationship between Unix and Linux like what DOS was to Windows?
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> * Should I buy The Linux Bible?
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> Thank you
> rkzbos
>
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