Is "Point & Click Linux book" great for a newbie starting out?

Question

I have basic computer knowledge(web surfing w/Firefox, some P2P, basic Window's Vista understanding, but no programming - i.e., just a average user I guess).

Would love to get away from having to CONSTANTLY "update" for the latest spyware / malware / window's updates, etc.) And I heard the book "Point & Click Linux book" was a great start to Linux read.

But - how much of a Neo / Morpheus "free you mind" would I truly have to do to have "practical daily usage" with Linux?.

See, I also want to be able to explain "basic Linux" to my wife who is "computer simple(not illiterate) when it's all said and done, lol.

I'm asking for too much, aren't I?


Thanks for any help in advance.

.....

Answer 1

If you get a pre-packaged linux distro, it's really not that hard to use. it's just different, but most of them come with point and clicky. You're only going to get any real linux info by installing and using it. Get the book once you've had a play around yourself.



If you're hesitant about commiting to removing Windows just to try some new OS you might not even be comfortable with - why not try Linux out in a Virtual Machine first.



VMWare lets you make a Virtual Machine - basically you'll get a window (in Windows) that acts as a seperate computer. You can install Linux to it, and play in it (like a sandbox test desktop) first



You can get VMWare here:

http://www.vmware.com/

- use it to make a new Virtual Machine



Then, get a well packaged Linux distro like one from below to install to a new VM:

Ubuntu : http://www.ubuntu.com/ (a common favourite)

Debian : http://www.debian.org/ (more of a coders choice)

Mint : http://linuxmint.com/ (looks real pretty, people be jealous)



Now you got a user-friendly Linux build to play with and see how you like it, and if you find the whole process far too painful, just delete the VM and windows is right where you left it.

Answer 2

Point and Click Linux is a book with its own Wikipedia page. One of the things it points out is that the famous (within the field) editor Robin "Roblimo" Miller is the author. And of course it focuses on the distribution MEPIS.



Most of your questions are open to vicious argument. I can't live without my x-terminal open when the computer is on --- if it's a choice between point and click and command line I will choose the latter.



What you really have to understand is that Linux itself is more like a do-it-yourself Operating System kit than an Operating System, and the people behind Ubuntu, MEPIS, Linux Mint and dyne:bolic to name four examples have done good jobs of assembling them into OSes which are not TOO technical, but it's really better if you have friends who use Linux or know where the local Linux User Group is because there are always a couple of rough edges involved.



Roblimo is a good guide though. If he's the author I strongly recommend reading him, now, before you decide.



I don't know the book but the author is great.

Answer 3

I tried linux some time ago, I found out back then that there are more updates for linux than windows!, it is true that you do not need an antivirus but you may need to update "to improve the functionality" of one of the many parts that make linux work...



any way, you may not need a book, just get a "free" copy of ubuntu, install it & use it, it is quite easy to learn.

Answer 4

Any book on linux is okay for a newbie to start with. I would recommend you to use 'Knoppix' CD. Its a linux virtual OS CD which doesn't need any installation. You can play with linux and do the exploration.

Answer 5

yes! it is the best way to start.



when you learn, dont stop learning, if you want the best of linux then learn the commands in console.