Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop (Paperback)

Product Description
The Java Desktop System , from Sun Microsystems, is a modern system for all kinds of users, novice through expert. As an unusually robust, well-integrated desktop system, it may become the first to fulfill the promise of mass adoption for open source. JDS brings Linux and other open source software up to a level of usability that makes them suitable for the enormous base of Personal Computer users including office workers, students, mobile and home users. It behaves pretty much the way a Windows or Mac user would expect, but with many more powerful features. JDS has seen widespread adoption in the United States, Britain, China, and elsewhere. This book is the ideal guide to JDS: it is clear and direct, but loaded with insights from authors who have spent time working with, supporting, and enhancing the system. Tom Adelstein is an award winning polymath system designer; Sam Hiser is a respected business consultant with an itch that led him to become the marketing project lead for OpenOffice.org. Both are advocates for open source and founders of the Open Government Interoperability Project, members of the Open Source Software Institute and contributors to the JDShelp.org project. This book carefully covers such housekeeping chores as setting up networking, updates, and backups. Then it enters into great depth concerning the key productivity tools every user needs: email, web browsing, instant messaging, word processing, spreadsheets, and slide presentations. A number of chapters and appendices concerning useful tools, including things you can add to your system, rounds out this remarkably useful book. It has plenty to offer the new user as well as the seasoned Linux professional.

About the Author
Tom Adelstein works as a Linux consultant and specializes in identifying opportunities for open-source software in organizations. He's the coauthor of the upcoming O'Reilly book, "Exploring Linux with the Java Desktop System". He also works with the Open Source Software Institute. He recently published two articles in Forbes about open-source software and JBOSS. He also has written numerous articles as a guest editor for a variety of publications and is a regular web columnist for Linux Journal. Sam Hiser is an IT consultant with a focus on Linux. He volunteers as marketing project lead and member of the governing Community Council of OpenOffice.org 1.1. He is a member of the working group of the Open Government Interoperability Project for bringing open source applications to state and local governments across the US. He is also an associate of Open Source Software Institute at the University of Southern Mississippi. He is executive editor of ConsultingTimes.com

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2 Reviews 5 star:  (2) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 5.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Another step forward for linux, 19 Oct 2004 By  R. Wagemaker (London, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop is the first Linux book I have read that speaks to the user rather than the technical audience. It's the kind of book that the entire community has needed but no one has ever written before. This is the book you give your fifth grader, grandmother or employee. It is also unusual because you don't need to buy the software to learn JDS. It comes with a completely live version of Linux that runs from a one's CD Rom drive. It doesn't disturb the existing software on your hard drive. That's important to me because I am able to try everything out without having to make a commitment to changing my system. I thought the authors did an usually good job of writing to the non-technical audience. They explained what they needed to and allowed the reader to get right into working with the system. It also allowed me to see the similarity between Linux and Windows. I think it proves than someone can go from from Windows to Linux without much pain. Overall, the book is a good read, interesting and unusually high quality consider it's on a technical subject. I recommend it to anyone curious about Linux or who has purchased Linux and wants to get better at using it. Also, I think it's reasonably priced. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   5.0 out of 5 stars A course book with companion software, 19 Oct 2004 By  T.J.Hanssen (Norway) - See all my reviews With background as a Unix user and system administrator in a small business, I have been looking more on Linux the latest year, and especial on using the JDS Linux. Though Sun's JDS user documentation has been available online on the web, a text book is something more. Therefore I was anxious when I started reading Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop by Tom Adelstein and Sam Hiser. The book is excellent clear and direct written with the user in focus. Thanks to the authors insight and experience, even usual more difficult subjects like Internet and network setup are presented to the user with simplicity. But the user also learns to do real work in the Linux environment, as there are relative extensive introductions to the central Internet and office applications. Also support staffs and Unix or Linux system administrators will derive advantage from learning the JDS GUI ways whenever possible. If I should suggest an extra wish for a second issue (knowing it was out of scope this time), it would therefore be to complete a chapter or two on local networking with typical client-server configurations. In small office and workgroups, one of the users often has to manage also the necessary system administration, and not unusual in a mixed Linux/Unix/Windows environment. I was also impressed by the the JDS demo on the companion CD, how well it booted and started up with hardware autodetection. The only thing I had to change manually afterwards in the Yast2 configuration tool, was setting my keyboard to Norwegian layout. By help of this demo CD, which implements a nice variant of the JDS theme, it is really possible to explore JDS Linux live, even without installing the system on the disk. That is trying before buying. My conclusion is therefore safe: Exploring JDS Linux Desktop is recommended for all with interest to learn and use the nice JDS, working environment and applications in a quick and easy way. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 2 customer reviews...		Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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