Ubuntu on a Dime: The Path to Low-Cost Computing Review

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Ubuntu on a Dime: The Path to Low-Cost Computing ReviewUbuntu on a Dime - The Path to Low-Cost Computing is a excellent book for anyone looking for easy to follow instructions on how to build your own computer and install software for typical home or small business use for just US$200. Even considering that the $200 doesn't include a monitor, keyboard or mouse, that is still impressive! The author, James Kelly, spends just thirty pages in the first chapter explaining how to purchase the required computer parts and assemble a Ubuntu- PC or "U-PC" computer and does it in a relaxed, easy to follow style. Mind, the task is simplified by chosing a motherboard with integrated sound and video, but that is exactly what you'll find in the standard corporate office PC. My only concern with this chapter is that the author uses a PATA rather than a SATA hard drive with a shared IDE cable for the hard drive and CD/DVD drive and omits any discussion of Master/Slave settings. I would have recommend purchasing a SATA hard drive to avoid this complication.
The book is illustrated throughout with frequent, excellent screen shots as the author steps you through hardware assembly, then operating system and application installation, configuration and use. In chapter 2, the author explains how to install the Ubuntu Operating System and keep it updated. He defines in chapter 3 what he means by "free software" and covers the costs associated with four different means of obtaining software (Pay-to-Use, Open Source, Cloud Computing and Freeware). The remaining 9 chapters look at how to use free software - software either included in the default Ubuntu installation, or available via the web through a browser, to complete common computing tasks.
In chapter 4, email using Evolution is covered and word processing, spreadsheets and presentations using the Open Office suite is covered in chapters 5 to 7. The Cloud Computing Google Docs Office Suite alternative, with the advantages of everywhere access to your documents and collaborative working is covered in chapter 11. Web browsing using Firefox is covered in chapter 9, with most of the chapter dedicated to finding and installing useful add-ons. Google gets another couple of chapters when photo management with Picasa is covered in chapter 8 and Google Email and Calendar set up and use are explained in chapter 10. The last chapter looks at a few other useful applications found in Ubuntu; Calculator, Text Editor, Notes, Disk Burning, Movie Playing and Music Playing. The three appendices cover the computer parts list, three ways to obtain an installation disk for Ubuntu and finally a bibliography of web sites, books and must have apps so you can extend the use of your new Ubuntu PC. The 9 page index is fairly comprehensive for this 280 page book, considering the wealth of illustrations throughout the book.
I liked this book because it covered tasks seen daunting by many (PC building, Operating System and software installation, configuration and upgrading) in an light, easy to follow manner, supported with excellent illustrations. Further, the author covers a lot of ground without overwhelming the reader, taking you to a level where you can start using your computer productively and showing you how to use help files and on-line resources to extend your use of your excellent hand-built investment.
If you are looking for a way to reduce your computing costs, or know someone that would appreciate a gift that can help them achieve this, then Ubuntu on a Dime is well worth considering - particularly for anyone that gets satisfaction from learning via do-it-yourself.Ubuntu on a Dime: The Path to Low-Cost Computing Overview

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Ubuntu for Non-Geeks: A Pain-Free, Project-Based, Get-Things-Done Guidebook (Book + CD-Rom) Review

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Ubuntu for Non-Geeks: A Pain-Free, Project-Based, Get-Things-Done Guidebook (Book + CD-Rom) ReviewI have toyed occasionally with both Red Hat and Ubuntu over the years, but I definitely meet the definition of "non-geek." Installing these operating systems before always required some degree of struggle, and not uncommonly (especially with some earlier distros) I would simply fail. But that has changed. The current 8.04 version of Ubuntu partnered with this book is frankly outstanding.
First, a word about the operating system: this Ubuntu distro, code-named Hardy Heron, may well be the one that has finally made Linux as easy as Windows. I had always previously laughed at such claims from Linux enthusiasts, but this distro impresses me. It is the one that may at last enable me to defenestrate completely. And this guidebook is the perfect match, using normal language. One thing that it does very well is explaining what the few text commands that it uses actually do, instead of just instructing the reader to type it into the command line and leaving you wondering what exactly those "magic words" meant. There is a single short chapter about using the command line, but 99% of what the guidebook leads you through uses the GUI, so if the command line intimidates you never fear.
I installed Ubuntu 8.04 dual-boot with Windows XP on my laptop effortlessly. Not a single thing went awry. The new partitioning tool that is used during the installation is a great improvement over those in any of the (few) other Linux distros I've seen. The book follows step by step. My laptop is about 4 years old, so I am sure that a newer laptop may have hardware that is not as well supported and effortless. But on mine everything just worked, including my wireless internet.
Though they are enthusiastic, sometimes getting an understandable answer from the Linux community can be challenging. I had always struggled through installing Linux software before, especially if I needed to compile it myself. In fact, I can count my successful compilations on one hand. I never knew that GUI-based tools like Synaptic Package Manager or GNOME App Install were available to make it all so easy (assuming that a deb package is available, as there usually is) and again the book walks you through flawless examples. One example used for software installation is a program to automatically detect and load a driver for any ATI or NVIDIA graphics card- something which has historically been very difficult on Linux systems
My biggest criticism- and it wasn't enough to cost half a star or anything like that- is that the CD included with the book only has the i386 version of Ubuntu. If you want the 64-bit version you have to download it and burn the ISO to disc. (In fairness, the i386 version will load and run on a 64-bit machine, but only in 32-bit mode.) One of the reasons I bought this book was that I can't seem to pass the checksum when I downloaded the ISO, so now I am waiting for my disc from Canonical so that I can install Ubuntu on my desktop.
So, if you describe yourself as a "computer user" rather than a "computer geek," this is an outstanding book. If you know enough to know that Ubuntu exists then you almost certainly possess the minimal computer savvy required to use this book. I know that this review sort of morphed into a review of Ubuntu in addition to the book, but it is difficult to separate them. Suffice to say, the book walks you step-by-step through multiple examples of everything that you have to do. It also explains such details as what the differences are between the various file formats in which Open Office Word Processor can save documents. Almost all of such important minutiae are covered.
EDIT:
I wanted to respond to the 3-star review by Domestic Wolverine, which is the lowest rating that this book has gotten as of the time I am writing this. Mr Wolverine noted, correctly, that this book made certain assumptions about it's readers: It assumes, for example, that one knows what a computer is, knows (generally) how to use a mouse, and has at least encountered a GUI (windows with a lower-case w) in the past. This is an accurate description of the book. However, I do not feel that it is a valid CRITICISM of the book. It is, after all, titled "Ubuntu for Non-Geeks" rather than "Ubuntu for Hermits Who Have Lived in a Cave for the Past Three Decades." Mr Wolverine has, correctly, pointed out that this book might start at a level of discussion about a millimeter beyond the comprehension of someone who, essentially, doesn't know what a computer is. But I must point out that such people were not the targeted demographic. Such a book targeting hermits would be a very different work, and much larger, and be cluttered with a LOT of space devoted to material that 99% of westerners would just skip over. I laud Mr Wolverine for conceding that, other than this one deficiency, the book rates 5 stars. But I think that the book hit its intended target demographic perfectly.Ubuntu for Non-Geeks: A Pain-Free, Project-Based, Get-Things-Done Guidebook (Book + CD-Rom) Overview

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