Ubuntu has begun to make many people question the need to purchase or buy into operating systems such as those delivered by Microsoft. The only problem, in my opinion with moving to a Linux based desktop is education and getting those of us who have used Microsoft Windows for so long to understand that an open source solution does actually exist. The book Ubuntu for non-geeks 3rd edition does just that. It introduces non-Linux users to the world of Linux and what it can do, freely, to be productive in a complete Linux environment.

Ubuntu for non-geeks promotes itself as a “pain-free, project-based, get-things-done guidebook”. Let’s just take a look at this book from each of these angles.

Pain-free

The layout and presentation of this book clearly lends itself to easily finding the material you need. The language is clear, topics pointed, and is, in most cases, a non-technical book that you can follow if you’ve never touched a Linux/Unix environment. While the language is clear, for those of us who like to “get to the point” will have difficulty reading every word. While the author likes to make it entertaining, I usually like to just dig in and get something done. But, this is for non-geeks and if you want to captivate a non-geeky mother-in-law this book could keep her attention for a while.

The downside of my ‘pain-fee’ evaluation would have to be:

• While this book is supposed to cater to a non-geek, there are still assumed terminologies that will possibly throw-off those that have never touched an operating system before. To me this is critical and not be overlooked. Maybe a dictionary in the back of the book would solve this problem.
• I personally didn’t like the Linux .vs. the world “Becoming a penguinista” at the front of the book in chapter 1. While I know there are reasons to use open source over M-vendor’s products, I don’t think it is a discussion a newbie needs to go through. I personally would like us to all just START USING and forget about validating ourselves.

Project-based

This is the best part of the whole book. After you get past the un-intelligent chapter titles (yes I know they are fun) and just start reading the sub-titles, you will find well lay out and orderly information on just about any topic any newbie to Ubuntu will want to research. Now I don’t say this too lightly. This book has been marketed as a non-geek user guide. But in fact, if you haven’t installed, used, or set-up a Linux environment for yourself, you will get some benefit from this book. There are just over 30 projects in this book that take you step by step through little tasks and at times nuggets of sub-projects to build your knowledge of Ubuntu and Linux environments. From Customizing the GNOME Panel in chapter 3 to Virus Scanning with avast in chapter 18 there is plenty to experiment with.

Get-things-done guidebook

With the project-based approach, that continually and subsequently builds the readers knowledge as they read through the book, this is truly a guidebook. I will also go a step further and say that this book comes close to becoming a required book to use Ubuntu. If I were the author I’d try and market this book to be included with every new system coming out of Dell or sold at Wal-Mart. The book just cuts through the mess and ambiguity of using an open source Linux distribution.

To get a feel for the book, here are the following chapters. You can also get a look at Ubuntu for non-geeks 3rd edition at : http://www.nostarch.com/ubuntu_3.htm.

You can even download Chapter 3 to get a feel for the layout of the book.

Chapter 1: Becoming a Penguinista - Welcome to the World of Linux
Chapter 2: Wading and Diving - Running and (if you like) Installing Ubuntu
Chapter 3: A New Place to Call Home - Getting to Know the Desktop
Chapter 4: More than Webbed Feet - The Internet, Linux Style
Chapter 5: Rounding Out the Bird - Downloading, Installing, and Updating Programs the Easy Way
Chapter 6: A Tidy Nest - File and Disk Handling in Ubuntu
Chapter 7: Dressing Up the Bird - Customizing the Look and Feel of Your System
Chapter 8: Simple Kitten Ways - Getting to Know the Linux Terminal and Command Line
Chapter 9: Aliens, Tarballs, a Glass of Wine, and a Cup of Joe - More Ways to Install Programs
Chapter 10: Gutenbird - Setting Up and Using Your Printer and Scanner
Chapter 11: Font Feathered Frenzy - Adding New Fonts to Your System
Chapter 12: Polyglot Penguins - Linux Speaks Your Language
Chapter 13: Penguins Back at Work - Getting Down to Business in Linux
Chapter 14: Brush-Wielding Penguins - Linux Does Art
Chapter 15: Tux Rocks - Music a la Linux
Chapter 16: Pluggin’ in the Penguin - Ubuntu and Your iPod
Chapter 17: Couch Penguins - Video and DVD Playback in Ubuntu
Chapter 18: Defending the Nest - Security

Conclusion

We can all agree that Ubuntu is the next best thing since sliced-bread for getting Linux into the hands of those not easily swayed or convinced to throw away Microsoft. One of the biggest hurdles to overcome, in getting Linux to the masses, is actually getting the operating system and viable software installed on a computer. While we see some semi-mass produced systems coming out and offering Linux as an alternative, its books like Ubuntu for non-geeks that will hopefully take out a few bricks from the monolithic Microsoft Empire.

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