LinuxPlanet - Print - Linux Books--Then and Now

Linux Books--Then and Now

By: Rob Reilly
Monday, October 4, 2004 12:43:14 PM EST
URL: http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reports/5596/1/

In the Ancient Times

Back in ancient computing times, circa 1993, printed Linux material was pretty hard to come by. Finding anything in a public library was hopeless and retail bookstores were lucky if they could spell Linux.

I'm happy to report that, today, just about any Linux or Open Source related subject is available in printed form, from a number of different sources.

As a matter of fact, Beth Bingham, Public Relations Manager, of the Borders Group, Inc. said that Borders bookstores currently carries over 200 titles on Linux.

To me, that is progress!

In this article, I'll talk about where you can find books on Open Source software and Linux. We'll also look at how the Web will affect the Linux book market, over the next few years. I won't be discussing online bookstores, mainly because I prefer to go thumb through pages, then mull over my options, before I make my purchase.

So, where can you find Linux books?

Retailers Rule

The two big book national book retailers, that I frequent, are Barnes & Noble and Borders. Both have large Linux and Open Source sections in their stores and offer the reader somewhat contrasting book browsing experiences.

B&N

Barnes and Noble is what I'd call a general purpose bookstore. In addition to a nice selection of Espresso drinks and desserts, they also have the largest selection of Linux and Open Source related books of any walk-in retailer, I've seen.

Most of the Barnes and Nobles have a main area labeled "Linux", which usually takes up several shelves and vertical columns of books. I'm happy to say, after years of cruising the aisles, that the Linux collection, at any one store is pretty impressive. If you are looking for the latest, hot-off-the-presses Linux or Open Source manual, B&N is definitely the place to go.

Now, if you're the Open Source type that likes to spend hours exploring the bookstore shelves on that insatiable quest for knowledge, there are many other sections that contain Open Source related books. Stake out a spot on a nearby puffy chair and then look under sections marked "Security", "Hacking", "Networking", "Databases" and "Web".

Some of the high profile titles that I've purchased, over the years, at Barnes and Noble include:

"Red Hat Linux Unleased" (including the RH 5.2 CDs) by Pitts and Ball.
Visual Quickstart Guide - "PHP For The World Wide Web" by Larry Ullman.
SAMS - "Teach Yourself SQL In 10 Minutes" by Ben Forta.
"HTML 4 Unleashed" by Rick Darnell.

The O'Reilly series of Linux, Unix and Open Source books tend to be particularly well represented, as well.

Do you like to keep up with the Linux print trade journals? Barnes and Noble has quite a selection. They include:

Linux Journal
Linux Magazine
Linux Format
Linux World Magazine
Linux User and Developer
SQL Server Magazine

One store I visit frequently, has the biggest magazine section that I've ever seen. It must be 40 feet long and 3 levels high! Not all Linux, of course, but you get the idea.

Borders

For me, Borders represents the essence of an eclectic, kicked-back literary experience. Every time I go to Borders, I feel like I'm going to go around a corner and run into some famous best-selling fiction writer. Their in-house cafe is earthtoney and usually has a stage for entertainers and speakers. Aisles have comfy stuffed chairs that offer a quiet place to relax and read. The place makes it easy for techies to interact with the artsy, creative crowd, which seems like it would be a good thing, to me.

They handle many mainstream and best-selling Linux techno titles. Examples include:

The SAMS Unleashed Series, such as Red Hat Linux 9 Unleashed
The O'Reilly Series, like "Linux Unwired" by Weeks, Dumbill and Jepson and "Linux Server Hacks" by Rob Flickenger
The Dummies Series, like "Linux For Dummies" by Dee Ann LeBlanc

Borders makes a good effort to cater to the highly discriminating techie, offering a range of specialty books, such as:

"Compilers - Principles, Techniques and Tools" by Aho, Sethi and Ullman.
"Programming Interviews Exposed" by Mongan and Suojanen
"Just For Fun", by the Grand Master himself, Linus Torvalds.

Open Source magazines are represented too, although the selection is small. I was able to find the latest editions of Linux Journal and Linux Format on my last visit.

Bingham noted that one of the most popular Borders Linux titles is "Moving to Linux: Kiss The Blue Screen of Death Goodbye". She also said that Linux distributions that come bundled with a book tend to sell the best. "Moving To Linux" comes with a Knoppix CD.

CompUSA

Although CompUSA's main focus is consumer hardware, they also stock a fair selection of Linux material. The selection varies from store to store and is smaller than what's available in the retail bookstores.

Many of the Linux and Open Source books end up on the clearance racks, so you should be cautious with your purchase, as the information may be a little dated. On the other hand, many techniques in Linux don't change that much and you may find these bargain older texts, useful additions to your library.

Alternative Sources

Libraries normally have some ancient Unix texts and the occasional early Linux titles. Selections are limited and dependent on the location of the library. It's an interesting place to go to chronicle computer history, since many of the books are hopelessly out of date.

One problem that the libraries have is that they can't buy the information, ie: books, quickly enough. Web content describing an application or new technique becomes available mere days after a new product release. The Open Source community, in print and via the Web, definitely push new information delivery limits, as compared to other industries, in that respect. As a consequence, the effect of speed of content delivery has hurt the traditional library business model. The hyper information delivery rate that shows up on the Web, would seem to negatively affect the bookstores. It doesn't seem to have much effect.

Still, a trip to the public library, just to reminisce over dusty old vintage 1996 Linux books could be fun.

I haven't been to a large college library in years, but I would think that if you are near one, it might be worth a trip, just to see what they have.

Speaking of college, I remember buying a brand new copy of "The C Programming Language", by Kernighan and Ritchie, way back in about 1982 at the main campus bookstore. As a student I coughed up the $22.50 for my copy. I never did that much programming, but I think it's kind of neat to own a piece of history. Especially one that had such a great influence on the Unix, Open Source and Linux worlds.

Some Linux User Groups keep libraries of books that are available to their members.

Web Replaces Paper?

As much as we rely on the Web for information today, I just don't see interest in printed Linux books slowing down, at all. As a matter of fact, I'd say demand and production are both increasing.

Most of the Linux technology writers and editors, that I've met over the last couple of years, have authored their own books on Linux and Open Source. It's a natural extension of the Linux media environment, a credibility builder and a real draw for those interested in multiple income streams. With the advent of Print On Demand (POD) and short run printing, its pretty easy to publish and promote books on any number of Open Source topics.

Let's not forget how quickly the Linux world is evolving, either. New applications and techniques are arriving at breakneck speed and being described in shiny new 3 inch thick techo manuals, just as fast as authors can produce them.

People like to be able to flip pages and walk around while "browsing" the shelves at a bookstore. Retailers are making it easier that ever for people to continue to do that.

Will the Web force us to return to those ancient one or two Linux book title days?

Fortunately, not anytime soon.

Rob Reilly is a technology consultant, who specializes in helping clients communicate effectively. Many of his published articles are geared to the use of Linux, portable computing and presentation technology, especially as it relates to communication in business. His stories appear in various Linux and business media outlets. Send him a note or visit his Web site at http://home.earthlink.net/~robreilly.