Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop

Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop
Tom Adelstein,Sam Hiser | 1900-01-01 00:00:00 | O'Reilly Media | 352 | Linux
Picking out the key elements of any operating system and it's desktop can radically improve ones productivity. That includes the highly regarded Java Desktop System, from Sun Microsystems. JDS represents the most modern of desktop systems that behaves pretty much the way a Windows or Mac user would expect, but with many more powerful features.

JDS, an unusually robust, well-integrated desktop system has turned out to be 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. Sun Microsystems has sold large quantities of JDS 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. 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.
Reviews
Putting Linux on the desktop has been the clarion call of many Linux users as well as people who want a system that does not crash almost daily or have multiple security and other problems. The problem is that a graphical interface that is similar enough to the Windows or MacIntosh systems that there would be minimal training and yet is easy to install without problems has been long in coming. While there are several contenders today, the Java Desktop System (JDS) Linux Desktop is one of the fastest, and easiest to install.



In Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop the authors take the reader through the installation process and all the basic information for using the JDS Linux Desktop. Not only do they go over the infrastructure items like networking and printing but also the most common applications that come with JDS Linux Desktop. These applications include email, calendaring, instant messenger, the web browser, StarWriter (word processing), and StarCalc (spreadsheet). They even go over various options for running Windows programs in JDS Linux including some options that often run Windows programs faster than Windows!



The book comes with a Live CD, which is a version of JDS Linux Desktop that runs from the CD. Simply put it into your CD-Rom drive and boot your computer and you are running Linux with a graphical interface. I tried it on a couple of computers on which I had trouble getting a much more popular version of Linux to recognize the on-board video interface but JDS Linux Desktop got it right the first time and worked as expected without any special manual configuration. While many of the items covered in the book are not on the CD, enough of them are there to give the user a good feel for how the operating system works. The book warns that the Live CD allows you to create documents but you cannot save them. However, that is not entirely true. If you are knowledgeable in Linux it is simple enough to open a terminal and mount the hard drive - including a Windows formatted drive and save any files there.



Although I have done a lot with the Linux operating system this is the first time I have used the Sun Java Desktop System (JDS). The interface is very professional and definitely on par with Windows. Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop is a highly recommended read for anyone who wants to learn the basics of navigating and using this system.
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.
Reviews
This book attracted me as I'm a current JDS user, and I was completely taken by suprise by the actual depth of the book. Most technical books that one buys goes way beyond the scope of the average home user. Adelstein and Hiser use your basic building block approach to using JDS and a newcomer interested in linux can follow it right along with the enclosed bootable cd without the danger of making a mistake and wiping out the settings on one's computer. For the experienced user, such as myself, or someone wanting to learn, the chapter dealing with StarOffice will be something that will be referred to for years to come. This book is a "must have" for your linux library.
Reviews
I often find myself digging through the pages of technical books, prior to purchasing them, just to be sure they are readable. Most technical books assume a certain level of expertise, and as a result, become overly technical and hard to read. "Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop" is an excellent book that from the very first page, is well written and an easy read. If this is your first experience with Linux or your 10th, this is the book for you! Complete with screen shots, and a live CD of JDS, you will soon be on your way to enjoying the JDS experience. You will learn many aspects of the operating system including, Networking, office productivity, and system management.



Hats off to the authors for writing this fabulous book which has found a permanent place in my collection.




Reviews
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.

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