Test Driving Linux: A Desktop User's Guide

Description:

For years, computer users have put up with the bugs, security holes, and viruses on Windows because they had no choice. Until recently, there has never been a good alternative to Windows. But now, Windows users can switch to Linux, the reliable, secure, and spyware free operating system. Linux is easy to use, runs on almost any PC, and enables you to perform all the tasks you can do with Windows.

Getting to know Linux has never been easier, because now there's a way to test-drive Linux without changing, installing, or configuring a thing on your computer. It's called Test Driving Linux: From Windows to Linux in 60 Seconds.

This latest release from O'Reilly comes with a Live CD called Move, that allows Windows users to try all the features of Mandrake Linux, a popular Linux distribution without the hassle of actually installing Linux. Users simply place the Move CD into their CD drive, boot from the disc, then watch an entire Mandrake system run on the fly from the CD-ROM.

Test Driving Linux: From Windows to Linux in 60 Seconds is a detailed step-by-step guide to the Linux operating system and several popular open source programs. With this guide you can quickly learn how to use Linux to perform the tasks you do most: surf the web, send and receive email, instant message with friends, write letters, create spreadsheets, and even how to enhance your digitial photos.

Test Driving Linux: From Windows to Linux in 60 Seconds provides both home and business users with a hassle-free way to investigate this operating system before they purchase and install a complete Linux distribution.

 

Table of Contents:

Preface

Chapter 1. Getting Started

     What Is Linux?

     Starting Up the Move CD

     The KDE Desktop

     Using a Typical KDE Application

     Controlling Windows

     Virtual Desktops

     Setting Your Desktop Background

     Linux Equivalents to Your Windows Programs

     Logging Out of KDE

Chapter 2. Surf the Web

     Using Konqueror as a Web Browser

     Customizing Konqueror

     Disabling Pop-Up Ads

     Exploring Tabbed Web Browsing

     Teaching Konqueror to Lie

     Using Bookmarks

     Dealing with Helper Applications

     Accessing FTP Sites

     The Mozilla Web Browser

Chapter 3. File Management

     Using Konqueror to Manage Files

     Accessing Network Files

     Konquering Advanced Techniques

     Accessing Files on Your Windows Hard Drive

Chapter 4. Music and Videos

     Playing Music Files

     Watching Video Files

     Ripping and Encoding Music Files

     Burning CDs

Chapter 5. Play Games

     The State of Gaming on Linux

     Trying Out the Games on the Move CD

     Getting Free Games on the Web

     Trying Out Game Emulators for Classic Games
     Running Commercial Linux Games

     Playing Windows Games on Linux

     Accessing Linux Online Gaming Resources

Chapter 6. Email, Organizers, and Instant Messaging

     Making Kontact

     Using Email

     Configuring KMail

     Organizing Your Email

     Organizing Your Time

     Create a Computerized Address Book

     Instant Messaging with Kopete

Chapter 7. Edit Digital Images

     Getting Images

     Viewing Images

     Getting to Know the GIMP

     Taking Screenshots

Chapter 8. Customize Your Desktop

     Basic Customization

     Customizing the Kicker Panel

     Changing the Look of KDE

     Creating Keyboard Shortcuts

     Eye Candy on the Web

Chapter 9. A Free Office Suite

     The OpenOffice.org Office Suite

     Writer Basics

     Advanced Formatting with Styles

     Other Features in Writer

     Calc

     The Future of OpenOffice.org

Chapter 10. Manage Your Finances

     Getting Started

     The Account

     The GnuCash Accounts Window

     Transactions

     Reports

     Real-Life Examples

Chapter 11. The Command Line

     Understanding the Command Line

     Important Commands

     Useful Navigation Tips

     Finding and Stopping Runaway Programs

     Zipping and Unzipping Files

Chapter 12. Great Programs That Aren't on the CD

     GNOME: An Alternative to KDE

     Evolution: An Outlook Work-Alike

     Firefox: A Powerful Web Browser

     Thunderbird: A Feature-Rich Email Client

     MythTV: TiVo for Your Linux Computer

     Running Microsoft Office on Linux

     Creating Web Pages

     KDevelop: A Complete Programming Environment

     Scribus: Designing Magazine and Advertisement Layouts

     Instant Messaging with Gaim

Chapter 13. Pre-Switching Information

     Choose Your Linux

     Windows-Like Linux

     Linux-Like Linux

     Getting More Information

     Summary

Appendix. Solutions to Common Problems

Index