Book Description
There's a new definition for "Fast Lane". . . .
·Strategy for all single- and multiplayer challenges
·Every secret and unlockable
·Detailed stats for every car, motorcycle, and upgrade in the game
·Pull-out poster map of Oahu*
·All key locations revealed
* Poster Map is for print guide only.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Book, but only for Xbox 360.......2007-06-07
It doesn't mention it, but this particular guide is for the xBox 360. Other than that, it is very thorough and informative.
It is great, and very helpful.......2007-03-09
Incredibly detailed, excellent guide, the whole game is explained in deep detail, every car, every challenge, every extra, it covers every aspect of the game! and includes excellent tips.
And the map included is awesome, a great help to locate everything in the game, it's wort every cent!
You'll Need This.......2007-03-09
If your the type of person that doesn't like to waste your money or time then you need this guide. The pull out map alone is worth the money. The map just pointing out all those hidden races and challenges why not submit and get the guide you need it. Another item I'd classify worth every penny! If your stuck or tired of looking invest in this guide you'll thank yourself in the end.
Book Description
Technicians seeking certification in any one of the automotive ASE exam areas will benefit from the valuable preparation offered by this newly revised package of test preparation booklets. Each title in this popular series features the most up-to-date ASE task list available, along with practice test questions like those typically seen on an ASE certification exam to help users feel more comfortable and prepared to pass the actual test. Comprehensive coverage includes overviews of each task list topic, including descriptions of the actual repair procedure being discussed, plus ASE test taking strategies and detailed explanations as to why a particular answer is correct or incorrect.
Book Description
Software testing is indispensable and is one of the most discussed topics in software development today. Many companies address this issue by assigning a dedicated software testing phase towards the end of their development cycle. However, quality cannot be tested into a buggy application. Early and continuous unit testing has been shown to be crucial for high quality software and low defect rates. Yet current books on testing ignore the developer's point of view and give little guidance on how to bring the overwhelming amount of testing theory into practice.
Unit Testing in Java represents a practical introduction to unit testing for software developers. It introduces the basic test-first approach and then discusses a large number of special issues and problem cases. The book instructs developers through each step and motivates them to explore further.
*Shows how the discovery and avoidance of software errors is a demanding and creative activity in its own right and can build confidence early in a project.
*Demonstrates how automated tests can detect the unwanted effects of small changes in code within the entire system.
*Discusses how testing works with persistency, concurrency, distribution, and web applications.
*Includes a discussion of testing with C++ and Smalltalk.
Customer Reviews:
Useful, but not the definitive book on unit testing.......2005-12-31
This was the second unit testing book that I read after Hunt & Thomas's /Pragmatic Unit Testing/, and it did an admirable job helping me progress beyond the basics. It has especially good overviews of Test-Driven Development, the guts of JUnit, and mock objects. I found it less useful (i.e. less detailed) when it turned to testing J2EE and database functionality. I found J.B. Rainsberger's /JUnit in Action/ a much more authoritative reference. But this book got back on track at the end with its sections on HTML and GUI testing, which fill in a lot of the gaps in Rainsberger's book. In the end, I give both books 4 stars because they complement each other well, although /JUnit in Action/ is, by far, a much better overall reference.
Practical unit test theory and implementation.......2004-11-19
For a short book like this I'm very impressed with it's breadth of coverage. It stars by covering JUnit and the test first methodology. It then covers testing a variety of types of code, including very notably HTML and GUI code. The last chapter, which is one of it's best is on the importance of unit testing in the entire lifecycle of development. This is an instant classic in the under-covered world of unit testing. A must buy for both QA and Developer alike.
Clear and practical.......2004-08-24
This is a very readable introduction to unit testing, a good first book for anyone wanting a sound approach to software testing.
The main text is divided into two parts. The first is a clear introduction to the basics of the JUnit test framework. The pace is gentle, and the entire discussion is built around sample code - very helpful for the beginner who thinks in concrete terms. Link (the author) omits the JUnit API information that's already available in JUnit's JavaDoc pages. Those are just the basic words available in the framework; Link's goal is to put them together into meaningful test phrases. Throughout this half of the book, the reader is shown a number of common situations with non-obvious solutions. At each step, Link presents a little theory (plus some nice references), a little refactoring to improve the system's testability, and enough sample code to make the solution clear. This isn't a textbook on the theory of testing. Still, by the end of this first section, the reader has been exposed to many ideas: coverage metrics, internet resources, design and implementation for testability, and a lot more.
The book is heavily oriented towards Java, partly because of the relative wealth of test tools available and because of Java features and APIs that support automated testing. Having chosen Java, it is natural to ask testing for unique features of the Java environment: GUIs, persistence, EJB, servlets, RMI, and more. Link covers those in the book's second half. Many of these chapters are specific to Java technologies and APIs. Some, like the GUI discussion, have value beyond the Java specifics they discuss. Even if the language and APIs change, many of the techniques will work well in any GUI programming environment. This section ends at a strategic level: introducing testing into existing workflows, handling of legacy systems, and management issues.
Link has written a very helpful introduction to testing. It has enough specifics to get a beginner started, or to help an old hand deal with the problems of complex systems. The book's practical orientation skips a lot of the history and theory of testing, including tests that deal with qualitative performance issues rather than basic correctness. Anyone reading this book by itself might not realize just how broad and deep the subject really is. Link does at least mention the major ideas in the field, though, and prepares the reader for more advanced discussions.
//wiredweird
Practical and Informative.......2004-07-09
I like this kind of book. It is practical and informative without being wordy or pretentious. It introduces test-driven development with a focus on Java and Java tools, but its lessons can be applied fairly well to any OO language such as C#, C++, Python etc. The book covers a pretty broad range of topics including an introduction to the principles of test-first development, mock objects, persistence, Web development, EJBs, and user interfaces, among others. Each topic is covered in sufficient detail to get started and points out the hazards one should be aware of. This book is also well-researched and contains a good list of references. Overall this is a solid, well-organized effort that deserves space on the bookshelf of any developer getting into test-driven development.
Great introduction to Unit Testing.......2004-04-30
Very good book for mastering the basics. Covers quite a bit of ground in a short period. Lots of references and examples make it easy to understand. I have worked with unit testing using JUnit for a couple of years and also enjoy the site www.developertesting.com by the folks at Agitar Software. I have recently taken unit testing to a new level using the Agitator, see www.agitar.com I highly recommend it!
Book Description
Prepare to pass any automotive ASE exam with help from this newly revised package of test preparation booklets. Each title in this popular series features the recently updated task list for the ASE topic of that book, with written overviews that describe the actual work that needs to be done as a technician that will be tested on by ASE. Technicians seeking certification in any one of the automotive ASE exam areas will benefit from the valuable preparation offered, including ASE test taking strategies, hundreds of ASE-style exam questions, and detailed explanations as to why a particular answer is correct or incorrect. The newest booklet, (C1) Service Consultant, rounds out this comprehensive package.
Customer Reviews:
Delmar books are hardly worth the paper they are printed on!.......2005-10-14
DO NOT BE FOOLED AS I WAS! I ordered this study guide in preparation for the ASE tests that I was going to be taking this fall. This guide is very poorly put together and NOT EVEN PROOFREAD apparently...it's a complete joke! Let me give you a few examples of why this is a HUGE waste of your money.
First of all, as you may or may not already know the ASE test questions are copyrighted and therefore CANNOT be reproduced. This means that the "sample questions" in this guide are not ACTUAL ASE questions, but rather questions that the author of the book made up that are designed to be similar in style to the ones you would see on a real ASE exam. ALL study guides are this way, which is fine so long as the person making up the questions is somewhat competent...the person who wrote this book IS NOT COMPETENT. Many of the questions are quite misleading, and some of the answers are just plain wrong! EVEN according to the information that THEY THEMSELVES give in the study guide!
There are so many typo's and mistakes in this book I got the feeling I was reading a book report written by my 3rd grade sister.
Each sample question is SUPPOSEDLY linked (by way of a reference number with a corresponding section) back to the section that explains how to do the procedure from which the question was based. THERE WERE SEVERAL SAMPLE QUESTIONS THAT LINKED BACK TO A SECTION IN THE BOOK THAT DIDN'T EVEN EXIST!!!!! I mean, how frustrating is that!
And then there is this hoopla that they sell you on about having "explanations for each sample question telling why the correct answer is right as well as why the wrong answers are wrong." WHAT A QUACK! A typical example of one of the sample questions and their "detailed explanation" for it would go something like this:
Question:
Technician A says [blah, blah, blah]. Technician B says [yada yada yada]. Who is correct?
a. Technician A
b. Technician B
c. Both Technicians A and B are correct
d. Neither Technician A or B is correct
Explanation:
a. The correct answer is a. "technician A is correct"
b. Answer B is not correct: [restates what technician B said WORD FOR WORD here] is not correct. [WHAT THE CRAP KIND OF EXPLANATION IS THAT???????!!!!!!]
c. Answer C is not correct because technician B is incorrect.
d. Answer D is not correct because technician A is correct.
WOULD THIS NOT FRUSTRATE YOU TOO WITH YOUR TESTS FAST APPROACHING?
Anyway, the first ASE study guide that I bought was a MITCHELL1 series study guide....after becoming very frustrated at the quality of the study guide I decided to purchase a different brand, so I went with the DELMAR series study guide and MUCH TO MY DISMAY when it arrived I found that it was THE EXACT SAME BOOK as the MITCHELL1!!!! BUYERS BEWARE!!! Apparently DELMAR learning bought out MITCHELL, as well as CHILTON repair books companies and now has some sort of monopoly on the whole market. It's sickening really...not because of the monopoly so much, but because DELMAR puts out such horrible products.
Anyway, I just thought I would give you all the heads up so you do not make the same mistake I did....when I bought the book there were no reviews on it so after my experience I thought SOMEBODY needs to expose this JUNK for what it is. I would put the company out of business if I could. DO everyone a favor...spread the word around that DELMAR does NOT sell good products!
Better than most ASE Manual Drive Prep books.......2004-04-26
I'm using this to help preapre for the ASE A3 exam next month. The strong points of the book are:
1. Consise summary of the ASE exam objectives
2. The large number of study questions (about 200)
3. The fact that each question is keyed to an exam objectives.
The book could have been improved by:
1. Proofreading it to correct some of the typos
2. Providing better explanations as to why a particular answer is correct while the other choices are incorrect.
All in all this book should help you score higher on the exam.
Customer Reviews:
Test, Protest, and Testimony.......2006-12-26
The twin structure of the institution of test and justice is erected on the foundation of pro-test and injustice. What is at stake in the interminable business of tests, testing, and being tested is the truth -- the incontestable kind; and its various modulations in the mode of the hidden.
In The Test Drive Ronell examines the ramification of testing's coming to be as the predominant mode by which the possibility of "I am" is preemptively X'd out in the unclosable space of infinite deferral and waiting-for-verification. Ronell's survey of the topos/terrain of the test drive offers us a field reporter's view of the carnage that covers the landscape of Dasein in the wake of the test drive's ascendancy to the status of business-as-usual on a global scale.
"There is a vast area of scientific activity that is simply not submitted to the rigors of reflection or that aggressively risks sinking into the autism of one or another form of closure. The scene of this repression, which arguably governs our Dasein, is what needs to be addressed." (p.8)
Ronell addresses this site by pointing out the forgetting of the bond between `test' and `testimony', `testament', `contest', and `protest'. In this book, she re-members them by putting the `test' back in `protest', and forming a line of Resistance against the regime of certainty, settled conclusions, definite answers, and final solutions. Ronell sets out to measure, and give measure to, the ramification of the increasing acceleration - now clocking at warp speed - of the test drive's becoming-immanent in the space that is "circumscribed by an endless erasure of what is." Test, contest, protest, and testimony: they are bound by an unseverable linguistic consanguinity at the depth of etymon. But the metaphor of the blood-tie often exceeds its status as a metaphor to show up on the floors of gas chambers and killing fields.
Insofar as testing is a form of anticipation (hypothesis) forged out of suspicion, the relationship between `test' and `pro-test' is intimately tied to diction - the utterable as such; and thus tied fatefully to `prediction' and `retrodiction' (a sort of "prediction in reverse", as in, Jesus would have had to exist because Edison invented the light bulb) - two possible modes of charting the chiasmic trajectories of anticipation (hypothesis) and re-vision regarding `what pro-visionally IS' toward the endlessly receding horizon of `what really IS.'
Nietzsche says: "When history speaks, it always speaks as an oracle, and only to those with ears to hear." Well, Ronell has ears, maybe several, and she hears things, like a sibyl, and deciphers sounds that might pass for static or garble. Indeed, there is much in The Test Drive that is oracular, by which I mean the uttering of the `to-come' AS `what-is-already-here-to-be-revealed-in-its-hiddenness: the apo-calyptic (removing the cover).
A tale: When Robert Schumann had finished playing his most recent composition, a serious young man inquired: "Extraordinary, Herr Schumann! But what does it mean?" Robert sat down and played it again, this time as an "explanation."
With that puppy display of eagerness to engage the composer in pedantic theoriesprache about music, the youth failed the simple test that called for a well-tempered silence of thinking thanks. Ronell would have chided the boy by telling him that sometimes silence is (the only possible) testimony to the truth of "events that surpass the holding capacity of a linguistic act." (109) Quoting Lyotard, Ronell reminds us why beauty is always vulnerable to the injustice of tests, critiques, cross-examinations, and reviews.
"A wrong is a damage accompanied by the loss of the means to prove the damage."
If the medium really is the message - bearing in mind that the medium IS style, and that the word `medium' can also mean `oracle' - then something about Ronell's style of writing deserves mentioning, if only briefly. I have elsewhere compared her to Bruce Lee and described the askesis of her work as `literary kongfu'. Just as any ordinary household object can be a weapon in the hands of a martial arts expert, all narrative techniques and voices seemingly become thermonuclear at the tip of Ronell's stylo. Each voice indivisible yet all fused to bring about a detonation at ground zero of graphôs. I make this analogy based only on what Ronell herself had to say about the relationship between (her) writing and dictation by way of haunting; AND because the word Kongfu when used as a precise technical term comes closest to what Levinas means by épreuve - a word that Ronell prefers to éxperience. "In the word épreuve there is at once the idea of life and of critical verification which overflows the self of which it is only the scene."
As is the case with her other books, her writing in The Test Drive demands to be read as a literary performance that bears witness/testimony to the act of performing in and with language - text as adverb. That is to say, it performs as medi(t)ation in dunamis, in which the kinesis of `language and its not' are set free to roam nilotically...like...a river: with varying speeds, with innumerable swirls and eddies, hugging the lay of the topos while overflowing its banks constantly to deposit the silt of questions that always beg the tiresome inquistion: Philosophy or literature? How about Arche or Prôtos? Principium or Initium? If push came to shove, I'd say Ronell is on the side of literature...which is... what? A prototropaic ordeal of striving for the protean power in the prôtos: the first. Or, "News that stays new." (Ezra Pound).
Perhaps Heraclitus was speaking - by way of retro-diction - of literature, or the épreuve of it, when he spoke of never being able to enter the same river twice. But then, Napoleon says, every river can be crossed in a single leap if you go to the source.
Book Description
This fourth edition has been completely updated to provide the most current ASE test preparation material for Medium/Heavy Duty Trucks available anywhere. Test T3: Drive Train provides valuable preparation for automotive technicians seeking certification in the Drive Train ASE Medium/Heavy Duty Truck Technician Certification area. Readers are afforded scores of opportunities to ascertain their knowledge of critical concepts, through the extensive array of sample problems, ASE-style exams, and competency-specific test questions required for certification by ASE. Refresher materials, helpful test-taking strategies, and thorough explanations round out this comprehensive preparation package.
Average customer rating:
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ASE Test Prep Series -- Spanish Version, 2E (A3): Automotive Manual Drive Trains and Axles (Delmar Learning's Ase Test Prep Series (Spanish Version))
Thomson Delmar Learning
Manufacturer: Cengage Delmar Learning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Study & Teaching
| Words & Language
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| Subjects
| Books
Study Guides
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| Subjects
| Books
Manufacturing
| Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Automotive
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
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Spanish
| Foreign Language Nonfiction
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General
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| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
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| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
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ASIN: 1401810160 |
Book Description
Now available in Espanol - the first of its kind for Spanish-speaking technicians! This comprehensive package of ASE test preparation booklets covers the tests for Automotive Service, Automotive Parts, and Advanced Engine Performance. These books are intended for any Spanish-speaking automotive technician who is preparing to take an ASE examination. The series includes questions that relate to each competency required for ASE certification. In addition to a multitude of questions, the reason why each answer is right or wrong is explained, along with task lists and overview, test-taking strategies, and more.
Book Description
License to Drive 2E provides driving instructors with an integrated learning program. Using a realistic approach, it covers all major driver education issues, with an emphasis on safety and defensive driving that will appeal to all new drivers. All major driving methods are covered, including SIPDE, Smith system and IPDE. The focus is on practical solutions to everyday situations, with thoughtful coverage of such subjects as driving under the influence, sharing the road, challenging driving conditions and aggressive driving. Thought-provoking scenarios and evaluation questions in each chapter engage the student, provide a wealth of discussion material, and encourage active learning. The entire text has been revised to reflect the most up-to-date driving regulations. Additional content has been inserted throughout, including a section on the dangerous effects of newer club drugs, such as Ecstasy, on driving performance. License to Drive 2E is available in hardcover or soft cover. The student workbook contains illustrations, word-searches, crosswords, plus multiple-choice and critical thinking questions. The Electronic Classroom Manager replaces the Annotated Teacher's Edition and Computerized Test Bank from the first edition, and provides the answer key to the workbook, computerized test bank, lesson plans, student activities and games, PowerPoint files and transparency masters. The set of 5 VHS video tapes offered with the first edition has been converted to a set of two, high-quality DVDs. State-specific content can be found in the online companion. Components may be used individually, or to complement one another in the classroom, creating a multi-media learning environment. For more information on instructor resources, DVDs, student workbooks and materials, see Supplemental Materials section on the right side bar.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent text and "must have" for Driver Ed students!.......2001-11-07
As the preface says, "this book speaks to you, not at you". Driving is a challenge and this text simplifies the learning to a level that does not intimidate the beginner driver. Whether you're a teen or an adult needing "brush up tips", this book is an excellent investment. Each chapter has a separate "Objectives" page, a "Key Terms" page, self tests, chapter reviews-great for the classroom!
As a new California Driving Instructor, I'm seeking resources to make the classroom sessions more interesting and this book is IT!
Also included are chapters on preventative maintenance, purchasing or leasing a car and lots more! I'm happy to give this book a five star rating!
Average customer rating:
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ASE Test Prep Series -- Medium/Heavy Duty Truck (T3): Drive Train
Delmar Publishers
Manufacturer: Delmar Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Repair
| Automotive
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Body & Fenders
| General
Trucks & Vans
| Automotive
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Automotive
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Transmissions
| Mechanics
| Automotive
| Nonfiction
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General
| Transportation
| Nonfiction
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Vocational Tests
| Test Guides - Careers
| Education
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Automotive
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
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| General
| Safety Engineering
| Vehicle Design & Construction
General & Reference
| Technology
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ASIN: 0766805611 |
Book Description
Each book in the series includes:Background on the ASE Test taking strategies Explanation of ASE question formats Pre-test Current task list Overview of system keyed to task list Sample test Additional practice test questions Answers to all questions with explanations Glossary of technical terms
Average customer rating:
- Not sure about trying out Linux? This is for you
- A great introductory Linux book
- A worthy attempt at sharing GNU/Linux with Windows users
- Yet another Linux walkthrough
- Take It For A Spin
|
Test Driving Linux: From Windows to Linux in 60 Seconds
David Brickner
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
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| Operating Systems
| Computers & Internet
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| Unix & Linux
| O'Reilly
| By Publisher
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Similar Items:
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Linux for Non-Geeks
-
Moving to Linux, Second Edition: Kiss the Blue Screen of Death Goodbye! (2nd Edition)
ASIN: 059600754X |
Book Description
For years, computer users have put up with the bugs, security holes, and viruses on Windows because they had no choice. Until recently, there has never been a good alternative to Windows. But now, Windows users can switch to Linux, the reliable, secure, and spyware free operating system. Linux is easy to use, runs on almost any PC, and enables you to perform all the tasks you can do with Windows. Getting to know Linux has never been easier, because now there's a way to test-drive Linux without changing, installing, or configuring a thing on your computer. It's called Test Driving Linux: From Windows to Linux in 60 Seconds. This latest release from O'Reilly comes with a Live CD called Move, that allows Windows users to try all the features of Mandrake Linux, a popular Linux distribution without the hassle of actually installing Linux. Users simply place the Move CD into their CD drive, boot from the disc, then watch an entire Mandrake system run on the fly from the CD-ROM. Test Driving Linux: From Windows to Linux in 60 Seconds is a detailed step-by-step guide to the Linux operating system and several popular open source programs. With this guide you can quickly learn how to use Linux to perform the tasks you do most: surf the web, send and receive email, instant message with friends, write letters, create spreadsheets, and even how to enhance your digital photos. Test Driving Linux: From Windows to Linux in 60 Seconds provides both home and business users with a hassle-free way to investigate this operating system before they purchase and install a complete Linux distribution.
Customer Reviews:
Not sure about trying out Linux? This is for you.......2006-11-06
This is definitely the book to start with if you are new to Linux. It comes with a live CD: Move, a version of Mandrake Linux that runs entirely from the CD, with no installation required. It is written in a personable, informal style which makes it not only interesting but often fun to read.
The intended audience is "Windows users who have heard of Linux and want to find out what all the fuss is about without committing a lot of time or hard-drive space," and assumes no prior knowledge of Linux. But not wanting to exclude people like me, the book also claims it "can turn existing linux users into more effective Linux users." But it really is for people who are currently using Windows, at whatever level. There are many references to Windows features and layouts for comparison. There are also many references to Windows problems as a reason to switch to Linux. The author is an unabashed Linux apologist.
I really like the organization of the book. It starts with the obligatory introduction to Linux, but in this case the beginning introduction is brief. Introduction is what the whole book is about, so "introductory" explanations and comments are throughout the book. The first chapter goes through starting up the CD, using the KDE desktop, and a "typical" application (KWrite). Chapter Two goes into web surfing, and Chapter Three covers file management. While there is a chapter at the back with "Solutions to Common Problems," a lot of what you'll encounter is included in the main material. For example, after the CD loaded, my screen went blank. Sure enough, there in the last paragraph of the booting section, I found, "One minor problem I have found on a few computers is that the screen will go blank and won't come back up. If this happens, just press any key on the keyboard and the screen should come back up." Yep, that worked. Oddly enough, the section on "Customizing the Desktop," with all the great configuration details and tips, is stuck in between the chapters on applications. I suppose it fits there if one thinks of the chapters progressing along the virtual path most would take in trying out a new operating system.
Brickner is honest, but optimistic, about shortcomings in Linux, such as games and video. An obvious gamer himself, he devotes a lot of space to discussing the games that are available, and resources for finding them. He spends a lot less time on video, which is very briefly covered in the audio section. He also does not ignore other common programs and features available with Linux that are not on the CD, and even offers frank assessments of Linux distributions to install after trying out the Move CD.
The application programs covered are the KDE suite of e-mail, organizer and Instant Messaging, Open Office Write and Calc, the GIMP, and GnuCash. Although very little time is spent on the GIMP (an image editing program), the necessary basics are covered: scaling, resizing, and cropping. It's just enough to get one started. He includes a detailed explanation of how to remove red-eye, but only succeeds in making it look harder than it needs to be. A lot more space is given to the other programs, especially GnuCash (a finance/accounting program). Brickner gives a great explanation of how double-entry accounting works by way of explaining how to use GnuCash.
There are plenty of screenshots. Some of the screenshot images produced text that was too small to be of much use, but I found that much of the text generally didn't need the screenshots anyway. The only problem I had was trying to get an internet connection on one of the computers I tried it out on. I couldn't figure out how to get a working connection over the local netwok, and the book gave no clues.
Despite the shortcomings, which are minor, this is an excellent book. It is the book to give (or recommend) to the skeptic or clueless person who asks what Linux is. It presents Linux as a friendly, usable alternative, with a manual that is anything but dry. We need more books like this.
A great introductory Linux book.......2006-02-03
Of the books targeted at people who want to give Linux a try, I believe this is the best. It allows you to run Linux on your computer without having to install it and exposes you to many of the basics. (Note: it will not work equally well on all computers. I would say it has a high likelihood of success with a desktop PC and a low likelihood of success with a laptop. The reason is that the hardware used on laptops is more "specialized" in many respects than that used in desktop computers.)
Unlike many other computer books aimed at a "beginner" audience, Test Driving Linux does not start out almost "too easy" and then quickly turn so complex that the person becomes confused or discouraged. If you are thinking of "trying out Linux," I doubt that you could make a better choice than this book.
A worthy attempt at sharing GNU/Linux with Windows users.......2005-10-07
As a daily GNU/Linux user, it is easy to find fault with any CDROM-based "run-in-place" operating environment. The first thing one notices is that the speed of the operation is limited by the speed of your CDROM drive. Also, if you do not use a USB key, you have no configuration parameters or persistance of data across multiple boots.
The Amazon.com price point for this book makes it a very reasonable way to experience Linux to see if there are features of it that you may want to exploit in your business or home computing environments. While Linux is certainly an option that is gaining traction and respect in households and offices around the globe, it still isn't quite as easy or useful as "premium" paid options from Microsoft.
I tested Test Driving Linux on a home-brewed PC at least two or three generations old and on a new Dell Inspiron 2200 notebook. The old desktop PC featured an AMD Athlon 1.05GHz processor while the Dell notebook has an Intel Pentium 4M at 1.6GHz. They both had about equally fast CDROM drives that are also both DVD reader/writer drives. The AMD box shares video memory from its system memory, which made ~191MB available to Linux while the Dell had some 1200MB of memory available to Linux.
The Test Drive CD failed to bind an IP address to the Ethernet device in the Dell, but worked properly in the older AMD box. Attempted use of the Open Office-based Writer program (similar to Microsoft Word, but free) on the notebook was sluggish at best, a testament to the speed of the CDROM drive--or lack thereof. Due to the limited memory of the AMD machine, I decided not to try it, but I'm guessing that performance isn't going to be very exciting on a much slower machine with less memory even if the CDROM drive is the performance bottleneck.
I found that navigating the Test Drive was annoying, but that's probably because I use Linux everyday and a newcomer to Linux may not find it annoying at all, but exciting and new. Something that is missing on this (and other) CDROM-based run-in-place distributions are that the programming tools, which probably take up too much space to warrant their inclusion.
I didn't use a USB key, but I suspect that it will save your configuration information such as accepting the licensing agreement and your login username and password.
The benefit of most computing platforms is the ability to customize the system to your computing needs--it made Microsoft a very wealthy company and changed the way we all think of computers in the process. This book and enclosed CDROM are not going to do much more than give its reader the opportunity to explore Linux and some of the very useful mostly free tools associated with a regular commercial or free distribution. For that purpose, I commend it with a 3-stars rating. I'd be more inclined to rate it with 4 stars had it been Knoppix-based rather than Mandrake "Move" based. Either are fine for a test drive, which is really what this book is all about, but not the only purpose for a CDROM run-in-place based distribution. The author does tell us about Knoppix and recommends it because of its better hardware detection capability and goes so far as to recommend an excellent O'Reilly book on the topic.
On my Dell notebook, the "tap" feature of the glide pad didn't work under Move, but does work properly under Knoppix...as did my Ethernet. Little things like that lead me to believe that Knoppix is probably a better choice for that slim segment of users who want to carry a "live" Linux CDROM with them for perhaps sharing a computer with a relative or when visiting friends or other offices where one wouldn't want to "soil" an existing computer with user configuration details, cookies and browser temporary files and such mess. A CDROM-based Linux system offers a lot of convenience and security that you won't find elsewhere. I'd probably recommend Knoppix for anyone who was serious about discovering Linux.
What this book does well is describe a lot of the applications that are available through open sources. The book is very well written and works with the reader in a considerate and professional manner without being stiff or haughty. One can easily tell that the author is well-spoken and genuinely interested in sharing his Linux knowledge with a broader base of individuals. I would have liked to see more recognition given to GNU and the Free Software Foundation as a matter of practice considering that Linux is a microkernel and nearly everything else is GNU...and all of it is built using GNU tools, but it wouldn't do anything to help the reader better understand the basics of the Test Drive. I think that all Linux users need to make a stronger point of the fact that GNU is why there even is a Linux kernel...along with the help of literally thousands of contributors to Free Software. Brickner does try to accomplish this through his automotive analogy, but the two do not correlate very well, IMO. He tells us that Linux is the engine, transmission and wheels and that GNU makes up more utilitarian elements such as the belts, hoses, frame and such.
The only aspect of it that I easily agree with is the frame. If it is not for a strong foundation in Free Software, there would be no Linux kernel to be built with GNU tools so that other GNU programs, libraries and functionality could be added to our hypothetical car drivetrain. I'd probably have worded the analogy to be more like GNU is the car and Linux is a bit of gasoline we use to power it...but that wouldn't be very correct, either.
I give Mr. Brickner credit for taking the fear out of his presentation of this Test Driving Linux. It should meet with the basic needs of any newcomer trying to move away from Windows. I strongly agree with the 2nd paragraph of his summary on page 326. It basically tells us that there is an alternative to Windows and he gets us started in the right direction with this work.
Yet another Linux walkthrough.......2005-09-30
I've read a bunch of these linux walkthroughs now and I haven't been impressed by them, this book included. The problem is that the coverage is too sweeping. There are too many screenshots and the coverage is way too broad. It's unclear to me how simply booting up a Linux distribution and playing with it for a little while isn't just as good as having this book walk you through it.
That being said, if you are really nervous about Linux and you want a canned walkthrough to show you how to install it and use the basics, then you should have a look at this book.
Take It For A Spin.......2005-08-25
This book is in effect a "user's guide" for checking out the Linux operating system without having to "commit" one way or the other. You insert the CD included with the book in your CD drive and start up your computer, voila you have a Linux machine. The CD contains a number of different Linux software, including web browsers, OpenOffice.Org, email program, file organizer, even software to play music and videos.
The book describes all of the software on the CD and guides your "tour" as you check all of it out.Starting off with a description of what Linux is and the KDE desktop, it then goes on to describe using the various programs included on the CD: web browsing, file management, Linux games, email and chat, digital image editing, Open Office, even a chapter about typing commands direct from a terminal screen command line. It brings back memories of using Unix prompts at various companies I used to work at. Linus increasingly has more and more excellent software available, and the book's next to last chapter describes some programs that aren't on the CD, but can be easily found elsewhere. And for those who decide to "take the plunge" and switch to Linux, the book's final chapter explains the major Linux distributions available. There's even a troubleshooting section at the end of the book. This book besides presenting an excellent introduction to Linux makes a great argument for leaving behind the world of Windows for something better.
Books:
- Testing the Waters: A Teen's Guide to Career Exploration
- The 4 Dimensional Manager: Disc Strategies for Managing Different People in the Best Ways (Inscape Guide)
- The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life
- The Book of U.S. Government Jobs: Where They Are, What's Available & How to Get One (9th Edition) (Book of Us Government Jobs)
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Success as a Mortgage Broker (Complete Idiot's Guide to)
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect Resume, 4th Edition (Complete Idiot's Guide to)
- The Digital Designer: 101 Graphic Design Projects for Print, the Web, Multimedia, and Motion Graphics
- The Directory of Executive Recruiters 2007-2008 (Directory of Executive Recruiters)
- The Fashion Designer Survival Guide: An Insider's Look at Starting and Running Your Own Fashion Business
- The Fashion Designer Survival Guide: An Insider's Look at Starting and Running Your Own Fashion Business
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Ishi in Two Worlds: A Biography of the Last Wild Indian in North America
- A Day with a Perfect Stranger
- Modern Architecture Since 1900
- The Accelerated Learning Handbook: A Creative Guide to Designing and Delivering Faster, More Effecti
- Sol-Gel Science: The Physics and Chemistry of Sol-Gel Processing
- A History of Interior Design
- Trozas: A Novel
- Microeconomic Theory: Basic Principles and Extensions
- The Architectural Pattern Book: A Tool for Building Great Neighborhoods
- The Australian flower paintings of Ferdinand Bauer
Test Drive Unlimited
Forza Motorsport 2 (Prima Official Game Guide)
Need for Speed: Carbon (Prima Official Game Guide)
Saints Row Signature Series Guide (Bradygames Signature) (Bradygames Signature)
Test Drive Unlimited DVD-Rom
