I just started using ubuntu about a week ago. Trying to learn more about the subject myself.
__________________
You guys got somethin' to say to me? Why don't you say it in the microphone. I got a backup mike right here. Check one two, testing, testing. Yup, they both workin' and guess what? They don't like no feedback, what's up?
The only time I've ever seen anyone with a "for dummies" book was my grandfather, he had a windows 98 for dummies. He still had a hard time. Always had to get the grandkids to fix stuff.
This is something I have been meaning to do as well.
Need to set up a home box/virtual install and see what I can learn.
I'm thinking Linux For dummies is as good a place as any -- but I'd expect to need a second more advanced book when done.
Just do like I've done. Jump in and install while half drunk. Wake up in the morning and figure out what you did the night before. Run updates and start using it. The Internet has alot of info i've learned.
The Following User Says Thank You to Joe Dirt For This Useful Post:
Truth be told, there really is a lot of info on the web.
There are distro-specific forums left and right to help you get started, and some of the lurkers there were using UNIX before many of us were born (myself notably included, and I'm 40). Transitioning for these guys to Linux was a breeze compared to newer computer savvy folks used to using MacOSX or Windows XP+
I jumped into Linux back with Fedora Core 2, and dual booted with XP. I quickly got past the default install and was hungry for more - and when I ran into Con Kalivas' kernel patches even back then that really showed me the power of supercharging Linux, I got hooked. I quickly learned how to compile my own kernel, and then was told that if I wanted to continue on my path to self-compiled kernels and apps, that Gentoo was the way to go. Back in 2004, this was sound advice.
Nowadays, you'll find a lot more in terms of distros that allow for a much more customized, built-from-scratch approaches - Arch is, Gentoo is, LFS is, and many more distros whose names I do not know. At the same time, if you know what you are doing, and don't mind taking chances to learn (and possibly b0rk your system while doing so) you can make any distro you like as customized as you want, or leave them as vanilla as you want.
One word of caution - vanilla usually leads to a not as noticeable performance increase on the surface (I know I'm gonna get flamed for this statement, but I can assuredly qualify it). When doing FC2 vs XP, my boot time were within 20 seconds of each other - both took ~1:30 to boot, XP closer to 1:40 and FC2 closer to 1:20. I wasn't really impressed, but I kept seeing folks that had magnificent boot times under 30 seconds flat. So, rather than dismissing them, I took the time to learn and read - a lot. I read pages and pages of forum posts, blog posts, distro-specific websites and manuals online, learning different commands, etc. I finally figured out that my default kernel in FC2 was doing nothing more than the Windows kernel does - polling the hardware for various devices, and if found, then loading the driver(s) for them. I also learned that I can hand code my kernel to only load drivers that I wanted loaded. And that, right there, made all the difference in the world. Once I took out the bloat, and stopped letting it look for new hardware, it was a snap to get a sub-30 second boot on that very same machine that took 4 times as long to boot into XP.
My rather long-winded post comes down to this - whatever floats your boat. If you want a book to read through, buy a book. However, if you're not into that sort of thing, do realize that you'll always have the Internet at your disposal - and with that you can find all sorts of resources to help answer much more exact and specific questions that you might have.
Coincidentally, when it came time for my first smart phone almost 2 years ago, I did the same thing - I read and read and read and lurked and read some more. I was already a member at Howard Forums, an a couple of other places, and then I found this place - and I obviously like it here But, I've never, ever evah bought a book on Android. Online is my cup of tea.
Just do like I've done. Jump in and install while half drunk. Wake up in the morning and figure out what you did the night before. Run updates and start using it. The Internet has alot of info i've learned.
My rather long-winded post comes down to this - whatever floats your boat. If you want a book to read through, buy a book. However, if you're not into that sort of thing, do realize that you'll always have the Internet at your disposal - and with that you can find all sorts of resources to help answer much more exact and specific questions that you might have.
Coincidentally, when it came time for my first smart phone almost 2 years ago, I did the same thing - I read and read and read and lurked and read some more. I was already a member at Howard Forums, an a couple of other places, and then I found this place - and I obviously like it here But, I've never, ever evah bought a book on Android. Online is my cup of tea.
It's weird -- for me I think there's a motivation factor. Like Linux is something in my "should do at some point" category. While Android is in my "I'm passionate about this nearly every day" category. So for the "should do" stuff, I'm thinking having a book laying around would give me a chance to learn when I have spare time, like on a train.
I started with Ubuntu 8.04, and have been updating and installing different distros since!
Not sure what versions you guys are using, but the latest ones are not using classic desktops (Ubuntu 11.04 and Fedora 15 come to mind). You might want to find older versions of those distros to get the classic Gnome desktop experience.
As for learning Linux, I'd say the best way is the hard way. I've learned (learned, not memorized or read) way more by messing something up and having to fix it by looking it up than from reading in advance.
Though, reading in advance does leave you more prepared; I'd say hands on is the way to go with Linux.
(Just triple booted my netbook for classes; Fedora, Ubuntu and BackTrack)
Oh yeah, servers are fun for sure. Set up Ubuntu Server this summer... pretty interesting, learning where all the real work is done from. As easy as it is to set up a wireless network on the GUI, CLI is a bit trickier. lol.
Got into linux late last year as a way to breathe life into old Power PC-based eMacs. I have 3 eMacs at work running ubuntu 11.04, and they run great. Tried out Unity 2D desktop, but didn't like it. I like cool launchers and graphical effects, but I simple does it fine for me on a desktop OS.
I've settled into using Linux Mint at home on a mini Foxconn box with an Atom 330 chip, and everything works great. Mint is just super easy to use, you almost won't need help. Best way to learn is to jump in and do stuff. There's so much good documentation out there, just be sure you're looking at something recent and not two to three years ago.
Support for hardware and peripherals seems to get a lot better every 6 months. Everything I've plugged in has worked out of the box with Mint. The days of Linux being difficult are really over, I think.
Lol - I was in the (biotechnology) lab all day today, haven't even cracked it yet on VBox. Tonight. Maybe. Cute girl may have other plans...and I'm a sucker for them lol
The Following User Says Thank You to johnlgalt For This Useful Post:
Starting with Linux!
But, I've never, ever evah bought a book on Android. Online is my cup of tea.
