Preface

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.

When the first edition of this book was being written, Linux was a much talked about novelty. Today, Linux has invaded corporate information technology departments, becoming a popular technology used by hobbyists and professionals alike.

As predicted in the first edition of this book, Linux is becoming easier to use. If you work with Microsoft Windows and have dabbled a bit in MS-DOS or are curious about what happens inside Windows, you already have the skills to install and configure Linux. Thousands of people from all walks of life have already done so.

Recently, Red Hat—the distributor of the most popular Linux release, Red Hat Linux—split its product line. This book explains both resulting Linux distributions: Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Fedora Core. It includes the two-CD publisher's edition of Fedora Core, containing everything you need to install and configure your own Linux system. This book will make your Linux journey easier, by giving you the big picture, providing you with step-by-step procedures, and getting you started doing useful or fun activities, such as word processing or games. 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.