I have several flavors of Linux, three of which I have purchased. The last one being SuSE 7.1 Pro. Hey, I wanted it all, just in case I got to where I was somewhat competent with it.

I am dumber than dirt where Linux is concerned, but REALLY want to "get-it". (Hate Windoze)

I'm also retired, so cost is a factor here.

I want to get the best tool for understanding Linux. I don't want to have to take a programming course to use Linux, but I do want to have ONE tomb that will, on simple step-by-step (my bad memory, ok), explain how to compile the system to suit MY needs.

I have yet to get ADSL to function, even though I have had some response's from SuSE. After 90 days, POOF! And the "advice" was far over my head. Didn't comprehend it at all. With 4 books from the distribution I bought, I still do not "get-it". And they told me it was in the FAQ's library. Yeah, OK! Good place for that!

I've inquired here, once. And I've printed out the help to see if I could Finally get it to work. Nada. Probably messed something up so that I can't get it to work. I hate that I've got good Linux OSes and don't have enough skill's to make them function.

Can anyone suggest the best possible resource book? Is there such a thing available? I would "bet the farm" that there are thousands of others, in the same situation, that would love to find this kind of book.

Thanks for listening. Hope someone can help.

well, in what i have looked for and read myself, i haven't found one book yet that is going to cover everything one person is going to need or want. the best resource i have found to date is the internet.. there is more info on what you might need and want than any book for linux, so before you go out and try to find a book that will cost you, you might want to try and find it first online.

...Linux for Dummies? I don't know but I just bought The Linux Cookbook by Michael Stutz in hopes that I could fill in the holes between what I dont know and the "over my head" advice I always get.
Haven't gotten into it yet, but you might want to go have a look at it - might be just what you're looking for
Search on The Linux Cookbook at www.bn.com for a description.

I picked up the Green and Black Linux for Dummies book and found it very helpful. After getting through that, I got a Guide to basic Linux Administration and was able to follow it. Alo, everytime I read an interesting article, I make an attempt to print it out and throw it in a binder.

My two cents here...

I myself am a book junkie and fairly new to linux. I have bought several books and i don't think there is the magic book that answers all questions. the internet is the best place for answers though if you cant get on it is a problem. What I have come to realize is that linux is great, I find it much more interesting and stable than windows. But it is also a b*tch, cause if you've used windows previously you don't know your way around computers. Everything has been done for you. Get a few books, scour the net, the answers are out there.
As far as ADSL, does your isp use PPPOE? If it does check out Roaring Penguin software, get the latest version which is available in RPM's. Do a google search. Works like a charm.
late
eric

Of course there is no book that does it all. I installed Linux and sat there staring blankly at the console. The dummies book got my foot in the door, the admin guide is a reference, and the internet articles do the rest.

Thanks to everyone for there timely and worthy replies. Most informative and helpful. Much as I suspected the answer to be. I have also spent several hours at the Micro Center outlet here in Houston, TX. They have quite a large selection of books available. I had hopes that there was a tomb that was not presented that I could request. Yes, I also have been to B & N for the same reason, with the same results. And, while getting answers online is an excellent source of help, the answers are not always timely. No offense intended to those who are providing the best solution, oft times the answer is multi-answer solution and without being there, mistakes still happen.

I am most interested in the manner inwhich commands are formed to do the job I need done. This may be the boon of newbie's like me. The "Show Stopper", as it were, to using Linux only.

Phil, we have the same maladay, it would seem. That being a penchant for staring, dumbly, at the console and wondering, "Just what the h*** to do next". For hours! Being mind numbed by M$ crap only ascerbates the problem. Therefore, my dilemma.

Oh, and the fact that should I break my PC, answers will not be forth comming via the "Net". I only have one to work with. And, it is now setup with a tripple boot. Yeah, it can be done. And works well, suprisingly. Having Drive Image has "saved my bacon" a few times. Fine software product.

ah! i too have been on a search for an all-rounder linux book.
i think the reason why i havent found one is coz of the way linux is offered... there are so many distros with so many different ways of doing all things on the different distros... and each distros have different packages depending on what you want (heck, i think you can compile your own linux and name it after yourself! )

unless you want your house filled with paper, the internet is the way to go... or try something else like FreeBSD if you like a little more coherence.

Thanks again for all the imput.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH:

Lockergnome is one newsletter source that has some very good information that I subscribe to. They have added, recently, "Penguin Shell", to their list of available newsletters. Good thinking! It's also written in English, not "technobabble"!

That's bound to P***-Off some geek hacker.

Anyway!

Today, out of the blue, like someone was reading my mind, (not a difficult task these days) was the following link.

http://www.elinux.com/support/

While it doesn't get quite specific enough about the particular distribution I am trying to figure out, it does have some rather good information to impart. Especially for those who have only an inkling as to what Linux is all about and what it takes to "get your feet wet" in Linux. They seem to focus on RedHat, Mandrake, and Caldera, but have some imput on other distributions. Looks like a good source for general information anyway.

Okey Dokey, the wonders will never cease.

I just hate it when my persistance pays off.

What to my suprise, this morning, I find in the "Penguin Shell" newsletter from Lockergnome, an answer to my dilemma.

Woohooo!

At the bottom of the letter is a link ( http://www.ssc.com/ ) that takes me to a PDF file for BASH commands and their meanings. AM I IMPRESSED? Woohoo!

On further examination, I find that this link ( http://einsteins-universe.com/linuxjournallibrary/ ) provides any number of tombs that will fill my library with helpful information. (And best of all, they are not that expensive)

Soooooo, if there is anyone else who might find the need, here are two places that can be of value for you to search.

I just knew that there had to be someplace that had either manuals or books that would be available. Someone has to teach Linux and it ain't all oral teachings. And the technobabble from distros are not everyones "cup of tea" for learning. Plain english works so much better. Well, it does for me anyway!

Enjoy!

Oh yeah, you may want to thank Tony at Lockergome.com for those links.

Nice one slohands, we will get it one day

If your looking at quality information and price is a factor,
than you should turn to the Torvalds principle of linux... free is beautiful!
www.linuxdo.org is the best site i've found and the guide section is incridibly rich.
I used the linux administrator guide and it is excellent.
There are other that i didn't read yet and that i presume is worth to download:
Installation and Getting Started Guide
The Linux users Guide
http://www.linuxdoc.org/guides.html
Good luck,