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Statica · 06-18-2000, 07:24 PM

Hi Shafe1:
Advanced Documentation on windoze is nonexistent becos there isnt anything in it to document

I am of course thinking of bringing out something like posters/hardbound book covers .. for windoze .. you just wrap it around any old book that you have, and it makes it look like a windoze documentation .. of course the central theme would involve a picture of the keys CONTROL, ALT and DELETE.

Ok seriously though, Linux documentation on print is poor because of 2 reasons, in my opinion...
(a) Linux is such a seamless OS, its not exactly a network & sysadmin mystified OS like UNIX, the result is that the author doesnt quite seem to know whether to write an advanced level or a beginner's level. With UNIX, the author is guaranteed of the target audience's savvy.
(b) Development on Linux is so furious that it is virtually impossible to make any $ of a book that is going to deal with a stale build. Ok so some of us will realize that it doesnt matter, the theory will always be constant; but for the person who is pumped up on that caffiene they serve at bookstores these days [if that isnt a bad idea....], and browsing thru the Linux section comes across a book about RedHat 6.0, is sure going to keep looking for one that deals with RedHat 6.2. Hence net documentation seems to be the right approach. Again, if you were to do a generic search for a howto, there are so many people who dont take the time to update the documentation on server.

The trix to buy a good book on Linux [and to some extent UNIX] is to buy something that (a) doesnt deal with a particular version/build/distribution
(b) doesnt deal with the OS .. buying a book "Linux - Oh what a beautiful OS" would definitely not be as productive as buying a book that overkills a particular subject like say "The Power User's Guide to using Backspace"

& last, although this might not apply, if you are looking for networking/security, try finding something that doesnt even deal with Linux specifically, a BSD/Linux combo etc is the way to go.

My 2cents on the HowTo of Linux Book Buying..

PS: is your rodent working?

[This message has been edited by Ex-Static-Cling (edited 06-19-2000).]

06-18-2000, 07:24 PM	#3
Statica Premium Member Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 9,231	Hi Shafe1: Advanced Documentation on windoze is nonexistent becos there isnt anything in it to document I am of course thinking of bringing out something like posters/hardbound book covers .. for windoze .. you just wrap it around any old book that you have, and it makes it look like a windoze documentation .. of course the central theme would involve a picture of the keys CONTROL, ALT and DELETE. Ok seriously though, Linux documentation on print is poor because of 2 reasons, in my opinion... (a) Linux is such a seamless OS, its not exactly a network & sysadmin mystified OS like UNIX, the result is that the author doesnt quite seem to know whether to write an advanced level or a beginner's level. With UNIX, the author is guaranteed of the target audience's savvy. (b) Development on Linux is so furious that it is virtually impossible to make any $ of a book that is going to deal with a stale build. Ok so some of us will realize that it doesnt matter, the theory will always be constant; but for the person who is pumped up on that caffiene they serve at bookstores these days [if that isnt a bad idea....], and browsing thru the Linux section comes across a book about RedHat 6.0, is sure going to keep looking for one that deals with RedHat 6.2. Hence net documentation seems to be the right approach. Again, if you were to do a generic search for a howto, there are so many people who dont take the time to update the documentation on server. The trix to buy a good book on Linux [and to some extent UNIX] is to buy something that (a) doesnt deal with a particular version/build/distribution (b) doesnt deal with the OS .. buying a book "Linux - Oh what a beautiful OS" would definitely not be as productive as buying a book that overkills a particular subject like say "The Power User's Guide to using Backspace" & last, although this might not apply, if you are looking for networking/security, try finding something that doesnt even deal with Linux specifically, a BSD/Linux combo etc is the way to go. My 2cents on the HowTo of Linux Book Buying.. PS: is your rodent working? [This message has been edited by Ex-Static-Cling (edited 06-19-2000).]