Linux seems to have slipped a bit from the public eye, but it's still very much on the radar screens of people who care about low-cost, high-quality operating systems for utility servers and power users' workstations. The release of Red Hat Linux 7 and the Linux 2.4 kernel have moved its ease-of-use and functionality up a couple of notches. A team of three writers has documented the operating system and some of its core applications for Linux novices in Teach Yourself Red Hat Linux in 24 Hours. The book focuses on Red Hat Linux as a platform for individual users. Though that--as opposed to network services provision--is not Linux's strong suit, standalone Linux operations are a great way to get experience in advance of a more ambitious deployment.

This book takes the form of a series of exercises novice users can sit down and perform as they explore the Red Hat Linux way of computing. The authors employ a style that's typical of books that document command-line environments: They intersperse input and output listings with plain-English comments about what each means. Tables list options, procedures guide readers through controlled situations, and tips give details on odds and ends. Perhaps best of all: This book comes with Red Hat Linux 7 on a CD-ROM, saving you the trouble of downloading it or buying it separately. --David Wall

Topics covered: Red Hat Linux 7 and the Linux 2.4 kernel, explained in beginners' terms with an eye toward standalone operation rather than networking. The authors give specific guidance through filesystem navigation, use of the GNOME environment and system configuration. Additionally, there is some coverage of simple Internet connectivity via a modem and PPP, as well as simple local-area network (LAN) set-up.