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San Francisco, CA, July 13, 2010—Ubuntu has been hailed as the Linux distribution for newbies, but getting it up and running isn't always a walk in the park. Linux is different—but the same unique features that make it shine can also prove intimidating for new users.
Ubuntu for Non-Geeks, 4th Edition (No Starch Press, July 2010, 496 pp., $34.95, ISBN 9781593272579) makes the transition to Linux easy by offering readers hands-on instruction to help them get up, running, and comfortable with Ubuntu, fast. In addition to covering the latest features of Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx), this edition includes five new chapters that take readers through common tasks like installing games, accessing social networks, troubleshooting common hardware and software problems, connecting with the Ubuntu community, and accessing the files on their Windows installation.
"A lot has happened since the first edition of Ubuntu for Non-Geeks came out, and Linux has attracted more users than ever before," said co-author Rickford Grant. "Our goal with this edition was to address the needs of the ever-growing, varied population of Linux users and to gently welcome newcomers into the world of Linux." Co-author Phil Bull went on to say, "We didn't want to introduce readers to Linux with list upon list of dry instructions. Instead, our approach was to concentrate on doing interesting things, tinkering with settings, working through cool projects, and generally having fun, while still covering the fundamentals."
In Ubuntu for Non-Geeks, readers learn how to:
- Install Ubuntu and keep it updated
- Set up printers, scanners, USB flash drives, and other hardware
- Install and play free games like Frets on Fire, Frozen Bubble, and Warzone 2100
- Watch DVDs, listen to music, and sync their iPod, iPhone, and other mobile devices
- Edit and share digital photos and videos
- Create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations
- Customize the look and feel of their system
- Work with Windows files and programs on Linux
- Connect with the Ubuntu community to get support or join in
- Work with the command line (or avoid it altogether!)
Ubuntu for Non-Geeks, 4th Edition is just what readers need to get started with Linux.
For more information or to request a review copy of Ubuntu for Non-Geeks, 4th Edition, contact Travis Peterson at No Starch Press (nostarchpr@oreilly.com, +1.415.863.9900, x300), or visit www.nostarch.com.
About the Authors
Rickford Grant is the author of Linux for Non-Geeks and Linux Made Easy. He has been a computer operating system maniac for more than 20 years, from his early days with an Atari XL600 to his current Linux machines. Rickford is the international student advisor at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina.
Phil Bull is an author of the official Ubuntu documentation, and a member of the GNOME documentation project. He has been helping people with computers since his early teens, and has been an open-source contributor since 2005. Phil currently spends his time studying astrophysics in sunny Manchester, UK.
Praise for Ubuntu for Non-Geeks:
"A fast, crystal-clear topical tour of the amazing collective accomplishment embodied in Ubuntu. I learned something new in every chapter, and ended up with a computer that did more of what I wanted it to do, faster. This book should come with every Ubuntu Live CD—it's just the documentation I needed to take some of the mystery out of my machine."
—CORY DOCTOROW, BOING BOING
"Highly recommended to all Ubuntu newcomers."
—PC WORLD
"If you're a Linux novice, or an experienced user who wants a good book to recommend, I give this book a big thumbs up."
—LINUX TODAY
"With books like this in the hands of non-geeks, the lines of distinction between geeks and non-geeks might just begin to blur!"
—IT WORLD
Additional Resources
Chapter 8: "Dressing Up the Bird: Customizing the Look and Feel of Your System" (PDF)
Table of contents overview
Detailed table of contents (PDF)
Index (PDF)
Ubuntu for Non-Geeks, 4th Edition
by Rickford Grant with Phil Bull
July 2010, 496 pp
ISBN 9781593272579, $34.95 USD
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000
Available in fine bookstores everywhere, from www.oreilly.com/nostarch, or directly from No Starch Press (http://www.nostarch.com/, orders@nostarch.com, 1-800-420-7240).
About No Starch Press
Founded in 1994, No Starch Press is one of the few remaining independent computer book publishers. We publish the finest in geek entertainment—unique books on technology, with a focus on open source, security, hacking, programming, alternative operating systems, LEGO, science, and math. Our titles have personality, our authors are passionate, and our books tackle topics that people care about. Visit http://www.nostarch.com for a complete catalog.
About O’Reilly
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