Like her, my cable TV repairman, and my colleague in the next office, you've probably heard about Linux from a magazine, radio or TV program, or a friend. You're wondering what Linux is about and whether you should give it a try. If so, particularly if you currently use Microsoft Windows, this book was written for you. Not long ago, Linux was the plaything of the technical elite. Today, however, Linux is much easier to use.
Every day brings a new tool or feature designed for ease of use.
If you work with Microsoft Windows and have dabbled a bit in MS-DOS, or are curious about what happens inside Windows, you can install and configure Linux. This book focuses on the needs of the new Linux user and on desktop Linux applications. You'll learn about networks and servers, but the details of those topics are left for more advanced books. Chapter 2, Preparing to Install Linux , helps you understand what's involved in installing Linux and guides you through a procedure to gather information needed to successfully install Linux. If you've used Microsoft Windows, you'll find X familiar and easy to use.