Major Linux distributions such as Red Hat, Mandrake and SuSE, among others, have released mature, full-featured versions suitable for day to day use on an average computer user's day to day computer, including not only a complete operating system but also a Microsoft Office-compatible application suite and a plethora of additional tools available for free download. At the same time, more and more people are become frustrated with Microsoft's continuing security problems and privacy, licensing and pricing issues. As a result, Linux is going to make serious inroads on the desktop in 2003 and beyond.

But today's experienced computer user doesn't have time to set up and learn a new operating system and programs alone. This book shows an ordinary computer user who is comfortable with using Microsoft Windows and associated popular applications how Linux works and how using it is similar in many ways to their current software.

Then it guides them through the wonderful world of popular Linux applications that perform the same day to day functions they're used to on their Windows computer - word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics processing, email, Internet browsing, pictures, music and video, and more.

Also included are chapters on file compatibility, how to use Windows programs on a Linux computer, with and without a Windows license, and, for those a bit more technically adept or curious, how things work “under the hood”.

Computer users are discovering that they don't have to pay hundreds of dollars for an operating system, and then hundreds more for common applications, and that the alternatives are less expensive and more secure. But there are a lot of choices out there. This book helps the experienced user get comfortable with those choices and how to use them.

About the Editor

Chris Herborth is an award-winning senior technical writer with more than 10 years of experience in the field of technology with a background in operating systems, programming, and other interesting areas. When he's not playing with his son or hanging out with his wife, Chris spends his spare time designing and writing video games, enjoying various Nintendo GameCube titles, and fretting over how long it takes him to finish playing games on his PC.