Getting a Linux Distribution

[linuxwannabe]

A question for the ones who may know: When it comes to distributions, are there advantages to one distro procurement method over another. Example; in "books-a-trillion" I was looking for "Running Linux, 3rd Ed." and saw those books like "linux for goobers" and "Unleashing redHat 7" and I thought to myself, I can get "Running Linux" for $35 but I can get one of those others that have a Linux distro with them for not much more. How do those distros compare to the ones for download or purchase? Just where is the best place to get a distro? (Or the best way to get one)

thanks a trillion http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

[Shad]

The ones in the books are usually outdated. Redhat Unleashed contains 6.1, but if it said 7 then it contains 7 more than likely.

The Distros in the books are almost always the same as the ftp download version, though a few are slightly specialized (they might contain a few commercial packages).

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Just a Tuna in the Sea of Life

[Ryeker]

I've never read Running Linux, but it seems to be the most popular book here. I'd suggest buying that book, and either downloading an ISO image and burning that on CD, or buy a CD from like linuxcentral.com. Reason being, you want a good quality book. The Unleashed series seemed to me more of a reference guide. Hard to read, and might not teach you all the basic steps.

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[chadm1967]

Shad is right.

Also, "Red Hat Linux 7 for Dummies" is actually a pretty good book and it contains the current distro on CD. Whatever distribution you decide on, purchasing "Running Linux, 3rd Ed." is definitely encouraged.

[Linuxman]

Although I don't have it, from what I've read and heard, Running Linux covers Linux in general whereas books like Caldera 2.3 Unleashed, which I have, get more specific as to the distro included.

However, those books also cover areas that are common to most or all distros. For example, Caldera Unleashed has a whole chapter on the X window system. If you are using a gui, that chapter would be good for any version. Caldera Unleashed also covers many topics outside of the Linux OS, like programming with perl, graphics programs like GIMP, netwoking issues, etc., so more than 50% of the book covers many aspect of the Linux OS that are not just specific to Caldera's distro.

The cd that came with the book is the same as the installation cd in the set I purchased except that it did not come with Partition Magic and it's boot loader, Boot Magic. The other two CDs that came with the set provided source code on one CD and Commercial products on the other.

Considering that you can get CDs cheap from sites like cheapbytes and linuxmall.com, you really can't go wrong if you get a book without a CD, then buy a cheap distro CD.

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