Product: 0131488724

A good book for those of us who are new to Linux by way of SimplyMepis. The author chose to approach this one, not so much as a step-by-step guide, but more like a general parts manual that summarizes what you get when you install SimplyMepis, or run it as a Live CD. I was a little disappointed with the relative lack of general purpose information about the Linux operating system itself, basic stuff like an acronym glossary, for example. Or how about telling me what those cryptic three letter file directories contain? But I suppose there are many other books out there which cover that kind of material in detail. This, however, is the only book that I came across on the shelves that dealt specifically with SimplyMepis, which makes it well worth owning if you’re a Linux newbie like me.

On the other hand, there really isn’t much in the book that an experienced Windows user couldn’t figure out on their own by simply pointing and clicking, as the title implies. In fact, the book seems to be aimed primarily at making Windows users feel comfortable about taking the Linux plunge. And that’s a good thing! The instructional DVD is a nice touch, and the SimplyMepis CD is good to own, as well, especially if you don’t have high-speed Internet access for downloading directly from Mepis. Org (downloading the 600+ meg .iso file on dial-up really isn’t a good idea, LOL!). The CD/DVD bundle in combination with the well-writtten book makes this an attractive package for anyone who is looking to explore alternatives to Windows.
Rating: 4
0131488724
Count: 8