Blink Monitor » 4-stars

Linux bible : boot up to Ubuntu, Fedora

rleir — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:48:33 +0000

Linux bible : boot up to Ubuntu, Fedora, KNOPPIX, Debian, SUSE, and 13 other distributions / Christopher Negus, Wiley 2011

Here is an updated version of the user and admin manual for Linux. You can enjoy many hours of poking through and trying out all the tools and packages discussed in this book. It contains a DVD and a CD containing various distros. At 800 pages, this is a fat book.

Real World Haskell

rleir — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:09:55 +0000

Real World Haskell, Bryan O’Sullivan, O’Reilly, 2008

Haskell is an advanced purely functional programming language. Read the book online here. Sorry, it is not yet at the OPL.

Half-lives – A Guide to Nuclear

rleir — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:41:33 +0000

Half-lives – A Guide to Nuclear Technology in Canada, H. Y. Tammemagi, 2009

This book is on the history and technology of nuclear power and medicine in Canada. It covers many topics and is well written. Unfortunately, its discussion of storage for nuclear waste is cavalier. 250 pages.

Got Sun? Go Solar

rleir — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:06:49 +0000

Got Sun? Go Solar – Harness Nature’s Free Energy to Heat and Power your Grid-tied Home, Rex A. Ewing, PixyJack, 2009

Here is a practical introduction to home solar power for do it yourself people, with no engineering degree needed. 200 pages, many illustrations.

The Human Brain Book

rleir — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:05:56 +0000

The Human Brain Book, Rita Carter, DK, 2009

This is much more than a picture book, though that is the first impression. Understanding of the brain is growing, and this very readable book collects much knowledge into one place. 250 pages, large format hardcover.

Making Things Happen

rleir — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:50:07 +0000

Making Things Happen : mastering project management / Scott Berkun, O’Reilly, 2008

Most books on project management are dry reading, but this one is different. It is written by a Microsoft veteran. 350 pages.

Windows Server 2008 : the Definitive Guide

rleir — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:40:23 +0000

Windows Server 2008 : the Definitive Guide / Jonathan Hassell, O’Reilly, 2008

This looks to be the best guide to Windows Server available, intended for beginning to intermediate Systems Administrators. Well written, 450 pages.

JavaScript Programmer’s Reference

rleir — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:08:35 +0000

JavaScript Programmer’s Reference / Alexei White, Wiley, 2009

This book seems to cover all the details of JavaScript, and is quite readable. The cover claims that it is for the beginner and the seasoned veteran, but the beginner would be better served by one of the other JavaScript books. The author recommends the use of libraries such as jQuery or Prototype, but they are brittle so you need to understand JavaScript. The book shows how to use plug-ins such as Flash and Silverlight. A heavy 950 pages.

Mike Meyers’ CompTIA network+ guide to Managing and Troubleshooting Networks

rleir — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:36:15 +0000

Mike Meyers’ CompTIA network+ guide to Managing and Troubleshooting Networks / Mike Meyers, McGraw-Hill, 2009

If you want to get certified, here is your book. It is quite useful in any case. And the pictures add value: did you know what an F-connector on coax looks like? (It’s what connects your satellite TV dish, or your broadband wireless antenna. 500 pages, large format.

Designing the moment

rleir — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:47:36 +0000

Designing the moment : Web interface design concepts in action / Robert Hoekman, New Riders, 2008

This is well written, well designed, and concise. 200 pages.