Provided you have a Pentium-class system, Macmillan's The Complete Linux Operating System 6.5 offers a path to Linux that offers easy installation, dual-boot access to Windows, and an excellent 3,500-page electronic reference. Based on the popular Mandrake distribution of Linux, this software/book CD bundle offers a solid option for trying out--and mastering--the details of Linux. Ease of installation is a standout here, with a simple and graphical installation wizard. (The featured Mandrake distribution has scored points with the Linux community for ease of configuration and its compatibility with Red Hat.) For those users who want to run Windows and Linux together, a version of PowerQuest's PartitionMagic allows you to create a Linux partition. (You'll need to upgrade to the full version of PartitionMagic to install onto Windows NT NTFS partitions, however.)
The version of Linux with this package is the K Desktop Environment (KDE)--an attractive desktop manager--with an option to use GNOME (and other desktops). KDE, with its slick, intuitive look and feel, is arguably a good choice for the Windows user tackling Linux for the first time. This package features a number of utilities for text and image editing.
A standout feature here are the five electronic books included on a CD-ROM of "extras." These titles include three well-known texts on Linux, KDE 1.1, and GIMP from SAMS "Teach Yourself in 24 Hours" series. RedHat Linux Unleashed and Que's Using Linux Special Edition round out the available information. Armed with these electronic titles, which add up to some 3,500 pages of information, any newbie can master the ins and outs of the Linux OS.
In all, this package is a good choice for anyone who wants to run Linux on a Pentium-class system. Expert users of Linux who want to tweak every setting probably won't appreciate the ease of installation offered here, but many potential users will, making this product a good choice for getting up and running with a powerful version of today's Linux. --Richard Dragan
