O'Reilly's Pocket Guides have earned a reputation as inexpensive, comprehensive, and compact guides that have the stuff but not the fluff. Every page of Linux Pocket Guide lives up to this billing. It clearly explains how to get up to speed quickly on day-to-day Linux use. Once you're up and running, Linux Pocket Guide provides an easy-to-use reference that you can keep by your keyboard for those times when you want a fast, useful answer, not hours in the man pages. Linux Pocket Guide is organized the way you use Linux: by function, not just alphabetically. It's not the 'bible of Linux; it's a practical and concise guide to the options and commands you need most. It starts with general concepts like files and directories, the shell, and X windows, and then presents detailed overviews of the most essential commands, with clear examples. You'll learn each command's purpose, usage, options, location on disk, and even the RPM package that installed it. The Linux Pocket Guide is tailored to Fedora Linux--the latest spin-off of Red Hat Linux--but most of the information applies to any Linux system. Throw in a host of valuable power user tips and a friendly and accessible style, and you'll quickly find this practical, to-the-point book a small but mighty resource for Linux users.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 40 Ratings

Wow, if you don't know this already... - 2009-04-13
Reviewer Rating:
I have tried Linux off and on for just barely 10 years now. What I mean by off and on is that, I used it for like 2 months, then went back to win32 for the other 10. Rinse and repeat this cycle for a little over 10 years now.

It wasn't until I needed to start using C++ again did I finally jump ship completely over to Linux (KUbuntu to be exact). There was other things of course. Like the desktop had finally become stable enough and software packages finally came to be over a long decade of trial and error through out the world. The shell enviroment(s) are always far more superior. But let's get back to this "reference"...

This book (reference) basically assumes you have _NEVER_ read anything _EVER_ on Linux. Also, it appears by the lack of vivid examples, that you just woke up one day and Linux was installed and you were left sitting on your hands only to reach for ANYTHING with commands. What you grabbed was this book. Ok fine, you'll get around, but you will be in tears soon.

Now, unless you don't run a desktop (In which case you are probably running BSD or vanilla Debian), this book only gives a few working commands to substitute daily usage of a machine (and not just Linux). By the end of the book, you are reading about GiMP and other graphical programs, but the desktop to run them was never covered at all. Wouldn't it seem you should know what at least a context menu of a right click would look like? On anything at all? Or how to at least graphically navigate to a file to open in one of these GUi's?

The typical file system paradigm is listed in the book, but what does that really mean to you if you know it already? What does it mean to you if you don't know it? Nothing at all or not enough I would guess.

I thought for 10usd I couldn't go too wrong, but I was wrong. Use just about _ANY_ tutorial on the net, and you've come full circle with this book.

Finally, I would like to express I do _NOT_ blame the author of this book, or editor, or publisher, or anyone at all. Trying to give reference to an entire operating system in this small volume of text is just not going to work.

Skip this book. If you don't feel like buying a book (and I don't blame you), use the net. I would recommend a book, but like we all find out, no book is ever as effective as using and discovering Linux on your own to fit your needs via the net as a learning resource.

Good for What It is - 2009-06-29
Reviewer Rating:
This book lists commands and what they do. It does not explain Linux, or how to do things, just what various commands are. It's not a bad reference, although you can get more from Linux man.

Great!!!!! - 2009-05-29
Reviewer Rating:
I received the in great condition and in less time than I thought it would take.

LINUX pocket guide - 2009-05-26
Reviewer Rating:
actually bought this because a co-worker had a copy and he said it was SO handy to have at work--our system uses this program/operating system. info is easily accessed and understood and I was told it's a thorough guide.

Very good! - 2009-01-30
Reviewer Rating:
It's the best entry point to learn how to fight with your linux and shell. With the new Fedora 10, why don't think in a 2nd edition?

Browse Similar Topics

Top Level Categories:
Operating Systems

Sub-Categories:
Operating Systems > Linux
Linux > Basics
Linux > Reference