First of all, is Linux: the complete Reference (seen here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...704133-4714514 ) worth getting? Right now I have no Linux reference books, and this one looks like it would cover all basis, including a number of scripting languages which I have been advised to check out.

Second of all, I have mandrake 8.1 installed right now, and I don't really like it. I wanted to switch to Debian, but getting my hands on it has been a headache. I used RH 7.2 in the past, and it was only a few little buggy things that I did not like about it. The book I mentioned comes with 7.2, so I am wondering how much I would nead to download to upgrade to 7.3 in terms of bare bones bug fixes and the like ( can upgrade the packages myself of course)?