Title: Linux in the Workplace
Author: Specialized System Consultants
Publisher: No Starch Press
Price: $44.95 (Canadian)
Overall Rating: A-
When my computer crashed again in the spring of 2000, taking an important client project with it, I knew I had to dump Windows. With a lot of trial, error, and experimentation I managed to get my business running on an operating system called Linux. During some of my struggles, I really could have used a book like Linux in the Workplace.
Linux in the Workplace is an easy-to-understand and relatively painless primer on how to use Linux for common office tasks. It punches holes in the myth that Linux is too difficult for anyone but the hardcore computer professional to use.
The book doesn't try to look at every piece of Linux productivity software. Instead, it focuses on popular applications you'd use for creating documents and spreadsheets, using e-mail and the Internet, working with graphics, and even interfacing with your Palm. Applications like OpenOffice, KDE, and Opera may not be familiar to you, after reading Linux in the Workplace you'll be pleased to learn that there are viable alternatives to your favourite Windows software. Best of all, the software discussed in the book either comes with Linux or you can download and use it for free.
Linux in the Workplace shows the business person what Linux can do, and what you and your business can do with it. The authors know what they're talking about. Except for a few complicated accounting and page layout tasks, their company uses Linux for all of its business needs.
The big disappointment is that the authors assume you have one or more computers running Linux. They don't show you how to install and set up Linux. While Linux is relatively easy to install, there are a few nasty things that can happen during installation. For the new user, a heads up on what could happen and how to avoid or fix the problems would be useful.
Linux in the Workplace proves that Linux is more than ready for the personal or business desktop. The book is an excellent roadmap that points the way to what any business can do with this upstart operating system. It may take a little time and a little work, but the results are worth the effort.