Rating: 
Summary: Run with LINUX
Review: These authors share a passion for LINUX and share that passion though great detail about how this freeware operating system is put together. This book is NOT a "LINUX in 21-days" or "LINUX for Dummies" quick read. What this book is however, is a must add to your library as a LINUX reference. Like the title indicates - it covers everything you need to understand if you want to run the LINUX operating system.
While the core of the book hasn't changed, this edition has updated installation, configuration and security material. Not a UNIX guru or need to brush up? The book covers all the basic UNIX commands and concepts in a simple and clear manner. I found the chapter on upgrading and building a new Kernel one of the best parts as the authors explain not just what to do but how to get a variety of hardware devices to work.
Want to play with X Windows, KDE or GNOME - they cover it. While the book tries to cover programming languages enough to help one understand how gcc, makefiles, perl, and java fit into the LINUX puzzle, to the authors' credit, they quickly point out there are many books covering these subjects and don't try to get into too much detail. They do get into detail about a subject anyone playing with LINUX must learn - security.
There is no wonder why this book is in it's 4th Edition. It's complete. There will likely be more editions to follow in the coming years as the LINUX wave keeps growing. But best to get the book now and learn LINUX, before the lawyers take over this OS.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for the timid
Review: Caveat: this book is not intended for use by those who are afraid of the command-line and of probing deep into their OS to configure things manually, but then again, that is what Linux is all about- getting under the hood! For those with no previous knowledge of Linux but with a desire to really understand and be able to optimize your OS based on your needs, this book is for you. While this book gives a passing nod to the X-Windows GUI interface, it spends most of its time on the command line, wherein the real power lies. From installing the LILO boot loader to recompiling the kernel, this book will guide the reader step by step, taking very little for granted. While the book assumes no previous knowledge of Linux, it does have a steep learning curve, and the subsequent payoff is huge. This is in particular the best first step for newbies to take to prepare to use Linux's extensive, powerful (and free!) development tools (C, C++, Python, Lisp, Perl, Java etc.). My only complaints are the scanty coverage of PPP configuration and configuration files (such as .bashrc and .bash_profile). This book otherwise superlative.
Rating: 
Summary: If you don't know any Unix, forget it!
Review: I read this book through when I started with Linux 6 months ago. Since then I've installed RedHat, Mandrake and Lycoris, tried a Suze LiveCD and had a look at Debian, while I developed my own website and started to use signed/encrypted email. I'll stick to my convenient Mandrake distro, to which I hope switching everything what I've got left on Win2k (I keep reading and want to know more about Debian, a fascinating world indeed). I've also used Linux very successfully to recover my Win2K station and now feel more and more comfo with Linux.
But THAT book did not help me much! The author himself says in the intro that he'll have no pity with Unix newbies!! Appart from good chapter intros, you'll find 80% of the book useless if you have a modern distro or impossible to understand and apply if you are new to Unix.
Paul Sheer's tutorial, Brian Ward's problem solver and Michael Stutz's Linux Cookbook are on my wish list, they sound much more accessible and useful.
By the way, O'Reilly's "Linux in a Nutshell" is a good reference book to have, although I haven't needed it much yet.
Conclusion: don't waste money on this book if you are new to the Unix world!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Running Linux covers everything from the history and philosophy of Linux to installation and running applications on Linux. After the introduction, the first few chapters cover the different versions of Linux and how to install it on different hardware platforms. This is very helpful to anyone who has never installed Linux. The step-by-step tutorial to setup and configure Linux is very detailed and explains many of the common problems that could be encountered. The setup and configuration sections are generic to cover all versions of Linux, but differences of diverse vendors are covered when it varies from the generic tutorial.A short introduction to UNIX commands and concepts is provided for users who have never used a Unix based operating system. This section applies to not just Linux, but any Unix based operating system. Common applications that are installed are each given a small tutorial. The applications covered are vi, EMACS, GIMP, etc. Linux programming tools are also each covered in a short tutorial section on several tools. The last sections of the book cover Linux administration. Setting up new users and file premissions are discussed. Also, networking aspects of Linux and covered in various chapters about TCP/IP and e-mail. This book is a comprehensive book covering all aspects of Linux and should be required reading for anyone new to Linux.
Rating:
Summary: Get Running Now
Review: These authors share a passion for LINUX and share that passion though great detail about how this freeware operating system is put together. This book is NOT a "LINUX in 21-days" or "LINUX for Dummies" quick read. What this book is however, is a must add to your library as a great LINUX reference. Like the title indicates - it covers everything you need to understand if you want to run the LINUX operating system.
While the core of the book hasn't changed, this edition has updated installation, configuration and security material. Not a UNIX guru or need to brush up? The book covers all the basic UNIX commands and concepts in a simple and clear manner. I found the chapter on upgrading and building a new Kernel one of the best parts as the authors explain not just what to do but how to get a variety of hardware devices to work.
Want to run X Windows, KDE or GNOME? They cover it! While the book tries to cover programming languages just enough to help a reader understand how gcc, makefiles, perl, and java fit into the LINUX puzzle, to the authors' credit, they quickly point out there are many books covering these subjects and don't try to get into too much detail. They do get into detail about a subject anyone playing with LINUX must know - security.
There is no wonder why this book is in it's 4th Edition. It's complete. There will likely be more editions to follow in the coming years as the LINUX wave keeps growing. But best to get the book now and learn LINUX, before the lawyers take over this OS.
Rating: 
Summary: If you already know some Unix, forget this book
Review: If you already know a little bit of Unix or Linux or other Unix-variants, this book is way too "introductory" for you. It covers stuff like how to login and run ls, cp and mv. As another example, see the section on backing your computer. It talks about using find and tar, but nothing about dump and restore and backup strategies. Overall, too much scratching the surface and not enough in depth information for real Unix users.
Rating:
Summary: Total crudd
Review: Not good at all. This book will teach you to do things but not figure out anything, it will teach you to do the most basic tasks but leave you dry when it comes to actually doing anything not covered in the book. Consider this book giving a man a fish instead of teaching him to fish.
Rating: 
Summary: Pass on 3rd Edition (99) version (1-56592-469-X)
Review: This is a general book on Linux and with a general guide to installing Linux. With 2 chapters and 43 pages on installation, its general procedures are next to useless. There is no specific distribution and hardware so at least your installation can be modelled from it. At least there is a few hints like using Fdisk with /MBR (p88) for dual boot Win/Linux machines. Almost all of the book is oriented to the command line within a terminal window. The book shows a Windows GUI, Xfree86, Chap 10-11, and Gnome in Appendix B. I have yet to find a book that makes it straightforward to fully configure a Linux machine with SCSI, sound, network, modem or router, tape backup, CD-RW, USB, FireWire, scanner, photo, HP printer etc so that some real work can be done with StarOffice, Netscape web & email. (Doing things that can be done on Win98SE without breaking a sweat.) However, I still recommend finding a local Linux User Group and going to an InstallFest (Twin Cities, Minn has a group supported by the Univ of Minn, EE/CS Dept). I have attended one but still didn't have a fully configured RedHat Linux 9 Server up and running yet. After the 2nd InstallFest, I got my TR-4 tape backup functional and Palm sync'd. I read this book at the local library.
Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: well written with worthwhile info contained, which is typical of an o'reilly book. This book isn't a system administration book, it is more of a "beginner linux" book that explains much of how the various linux components function and work.
Rating:
Summary: Finally understand Linux
Review: This is the type of book that bodes well for all users of the Linux operating system. As most people know the O'Reilly books are always easy reading books. This one is no exception. Being one that has not jumped into Linux with both feet this book was still easy to follow and includes some aspects of Linux administration that were not covered in the previous releases. Running Linux is a not only an excellent reference, but a guide upgrades that will aide in staying current. The content is excellent for beginners and for those who have been at Linux for a while.
My personal favorite in this release is the coverage of the GNOME desktop. There aren't many books available that cover so much of the environment, and also provide assistance in understanding the GUI for it. Simply put this books is a must have.
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