--- In 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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From personal experience the Dummies books are decent but, as others have said, you want to get something more up-to-date than 2005 if you plan to actually install that particular distro. But one of the great things about Linux distro's is that most can be run "live" so you don't have to commit to one flavor without trying it first.
Knoppix is only one of many distro's which are available with a "For Dummies" book and there are several that, IMO, are more user-friendly, such as Ubuntu. You might check with your local library to see if they have "Ubuntu for Dummies" or any other of the books for that matter. There's no need to buy one if you can borrow one from the library, and of course it still comes with the CD or DVD.
Another suggestion is to simply download and burn your own disk but, again, you may want to start with a distro that is a bit easier such as Puppy or SimplyMEPIS. My first Linux experience was with "OpenSUSE for Dummies" and, quite frankly, I didn't like it for what I later discovered was its desktop. This may sound silly but after trying several Linux distro's I realized that I hated the KDE desktop which many people prefer. My point is that you may be dissuaded from Linux for a minor reason that is not an issue with another distro. One such issue is whether the system recognizes your hardware, esp. your wifi card, video and sound card and printer. Unless I'm mistaken, Ubuntu is still one of the best for hardware recognition.
Lastly, should you prefer to buy a disk rather than burn one (I felt this way for a year or so), consider sites such as DistroWatch http://distrowatch.
Sorry for getting carried away but I know how intimidating the initial dive into Linux can be and sometimes no one can help a newb like another newb.
Mark
Linux Mint 6 (Felicia)
P.S. As I remember the Linux Bible is pretty good for reference but you'll probably find it better to begin with a book, magazine or PDF dedicated to the specific distro you are using.
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