Rating: 
Summary: Classic
Review: This is a well-written book that is comprehensive and accurate. Also serves as a good reference.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book for Linux users
Review: I was very impressed by Running Linux. Like many other computer professionals, I have always been a fan of O'Reilly Publishing."Running Linux" claims on its cover to be "One-Stop Shopping Guide to Linux." They aren't far off. With information ranging from installation to programming tips to TCP/IP, it packs a lot of information into a rather compact binding. I have only one complaint about "Running Linux." Unfortunately, the book really glosses over some basic Unix system administration and commands that are absolutely necessary for the beginner to be able to be productive with the book and the operating system. If this is your first book on Linux, I strongly recommend getting a companion volume such as a command reference or novice Unix System Administration tutorial. Use "Running Linux" to get concepts, then consult the companion volume when you sit down at the computer to make things work. You will have a lot more fun and a lot less frustration in the long term. Overall, I have nothing but good things to say about the book. I found it extremely helpful. The text is very readable and well organized. I highly recommend it for all Linux users!
Rating: 
Summary: well-written, very useful
Review: Matt Welsh, et al write very clearly in this book. It's actually fun to read and, by far, the best computer book I have ever bought. Great coverage of all major topics. It's more than just a HOWTO, it lucidly explains linux's machinery. Wonderful for beginners!
Rating: 
Summary: Inaccurate, outdated, and pages are missing.
Review: If I could have given this book a negative number of stars, I would have. Yes, this book is really that bad. To start with, the first chapter is mostly a 40 page advertisement for Linux that tries to get the reader to believe that Linux is the best thing since sliced bread. In the process, of this ad campaign, the authors proceed to make inaccurate, and misleading statements about other operating systems, as well as make wondrous claims about Linux that simply are not true. Intertwined with this rather inaccurate depiction of Linux and how it compares to other operating systems, the authors can't seem to stay on topic in the first chapter. Occasionally, they follow rabbit trails and get way off topic on things such as editors that would be better served in the chapters on text editing. In chapter 5, the authors only make a passing reference to shadow passwords, which are pretty much a standard feature on Linux systems today. From that point on, they fail to mention that for many of the following procedures, users will need to edit the /etc/shadow file, and not the /etc/passwd file as the book says. Do the authors really expect someone new to UNIX will know this? The above is bad enough, but the worst part of this book is there are 49 pages missing from the middle! Since no other reviewers have mentioned this that I have seen, I am going to assume it is limited to only a few copies and is a result of lousy quality control on the part of O'Reilly. In my copy of the book, page 164 deals with file systems, and then suddenly, the next page is 213 which is in the middle of kernel configuration! I'm going to contact Amazon and request a refund on this book. More then likely of course, the best I will get is a replacement that hopefully has all pages in it. Bottom line though, this book was the biggest waste of money I have ever spent on a computer related topic.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely fantastic!
Review: The only book on Linux you'll ever need. 'Nuff said.
Rating:
Summary: A classic
Review: With its first edition dating back to early 1995, Matt Welsh's book is widely regarded as classic, to the extent this term can be applied to Linux. Mr. Welsh, now continuing his PhD studies at UC Berkeley, is a renowned Linux expert, and was actively involved in Linux development since 1992. In particular, he is known in the Linux community for starting the Linux Documentation Project, for contributing to it with Linux Installation and Getting Started (LIGS) Guide (available freely from the Internet) and, lately, for being the founding editor of the Linux Magazine. Running Linux grew out of LIGS as its expanded and professionally edited version. This has its pluses and minuses. When it came out, there were hardly any other books on Linux available, so it tried to teach the reader everything, from Linux installation to Unix administration, from the command shell basics to compiling the kernel, and from using the C compiler to configuration of X Windows. Its breadth is thus encyclopedic, and yet it is surprisingly sharp at details. The third edition added all the things that happened since: KDE, GNOME, Samba... It may be my personal feeling only, but the new chapters somewhat stick out, without really growing into the tissue of the text. More important, the book fails to recognize that the structure of new Linux users changed since 1995. At the time, it was written as a "getting started" guide, and it served its role perfectly. However, nowadays you cannot assume any more that every new Linux user is familiar with command line commands or other Unix systems. Therefore I don't think I could still recommend Running Linux as a beginner's guide. Being one of the top-selling books on Linux, it doesn't need any particular recommendation, anyway. Still, Running Linux is a book edited to high O'Reilly standards, and written by some of the most knowledgeable people in Linux community - which is to many a definite plus compared to books written by journalists. I would say its best target population are seasoned Unix users wanting to try Linux, technically minded people in general, and CS students in particular. Others might find its learning curve somewhat steep.
Rating:
Summary: This is the best Linux book out there - period.
Review: Matt Welsh's book is easily the best of the current spate of Linux books. In fact, it's outstanding. It's very readable, and highly informative. If I could only have two computer books, it'd be this one and Lynda Weinman's Deconstructing Web Graphics. This book actually teaches you about Linux -- how to install, how to run, and what to do when problems arise. Forget the distribution-centric books, like "Red Hat <anything>". My only qualm is that it doesn't mention anything about SVGAlib. I really don't care much for X, and would like to learn more about that gaming library.
Rating:
Summary: A must have for Beginners and Intermidiate Level users!
Review: This book explains everything you need to understand, install, and start using Linux OS. This was the course book we used in my (intro to linux/unix class) and really I could have just bought this book and read it and wrote the exam and passed with out showing up once to class. This book makes learning Linux very easy and has exellent content. IT'S A MUST BUY! for linux users. You will be very pleased if you buy it.
Rating:
Summary: An Essential For The Bookshelf
Review: This the third edition of the book has been signifigantly updated and now includes an appendix on GNOME, a good addition. The book is not centred on any one distribution of Linux, as some others seem to be these days. The book is clean and concise and cuts straight to what users and administrators want to know about GNU/Linux, giving clear direction on installation issues, software upgrade/installation and problems. This allows the reader to step through the issues of problems, solve them quickly and to move on to other things with a minimal time loss. For those new to Linux and Unix there up topics to take you through the basics of driving your Linux system that are really easy to follow, and for more advanced users there are topics on software development and the use of tools for software development and debugging. I particularly like the treatment on PEARL and TCL/TK. Another fine book from the Oreilly stable, and should be on your bookshelf, along of course with the relevant HOW-TOs.
Rating:
Summary: If you buy only 1 book about Linux buy this one
Review: Being a newbie I read a pile of Linux books to find a good one, and this one is it. It covers a range of Linux distributions but really it is "system independent" in a clever way. Even if you don't have Linux installed yet the book is a very good read; informative, fun (it is!) and technically sophisticated enough. Almost any book claims to be o.k. for newbies and seasoned users alike, but in my view this book really succeeds in that. Money invested in this one is well invested. -And I am not related to the writer or the publisher in any way. A Linux usr from Finland
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