Master Red Hat Linux Visuallytm [With CDROM]

I bought this book because I was new to Red Hat and I am very glad that I finally received it. It is a well-written book that covers all the basics plus many essential advanced topics. It could have a little more coverage of the GnoRPM program, but that is OK. I definitely would be in a pickle without this book! If you need to know linux and benefit from visual aids, this is your "must-have" book.

.***********************************************Master RED HAT Visually...Reviewers Comments:First of all let me say, this is a fat book. 560 pages and 1200 screen shots should tell you something. The book also includes two CD ROM's with RedHat Linux, rpm's (to get you started fast), and documentation.This book is primarily suitable for novice Linux users, who will find they can get up to speed very fast with this text. If you are visually oriented, this book is what you want. The screen snap shots allow you to pick things up amazingly fast. His examples will lead you step by step through just about everything you might want or need to know.I liked the sections on Apache (a free web server) and GNOME in particular. Both of these applications are free like Red Hat Linux. Apache is considered to be the worlds premier web server--it is yours now. If you are considering a job in the computer industry--Linux (Unix) and Apache will take you a long way.So although the book is big, I found it a fast read. The author leads you visually, with screen shots, through lots of common tasks that you need to know. I can't imagine a faster way to pick up this material. the graphics make it all much more interesting. I found I read and retained more this way. It was a lot more fun. Good job Micheal!Michael Bellomo is one of my favorite computer book authors. If you read just one of his books you won't hesitate to buy another book by him. Bellomo keeps things simple. I think he must either have taken great notes as he went about learning this material, or else he has a natural flare for understanding what people want to know. This book, Master RED HAT Visually, typifies that. I remember the first time I dug into Linux. Things that are relatively simple in MS Windows are more challenging in Linux. Like how do you stop a program that will not respond to a kill command? That can and will drive you nuts. I had lots of trouble, especially with the graphical user interface (GUI). I had a program lock up on me and I had to reboot to get it working again (OK, so I didn't know what else to do at the time!) The point is you won't make mistakes like this if you read this book!This book is a cheap investment in your sanity. Bellomo will help you avoid such pitfalls and speed you on your way to the path of Linux enlightenment.Finally, there are many GUI's for Linux. I recommend you pick of the big ones like this one, GNOME, and stick with it until you know everything about it. *********************************************Conrad Senior

The book was quite oversimplified in its explanations, thus it never really allowed you to learn much of use.