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ekka
January 16th, 2007, 05:06 AM
Hi all
The Official Ubuntu Book is available for download (*.chm format).
It’s been licensed under Creative Common's license and I think it’s free to distribute.

Check the license before you download. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/


Download it from here
http://ubuntu.co.in/files/OfficialUbuntuBook.chm

riven0
January 16th, 2007, 05:09 AM
Ooooh! Awesome. Downloading now...

STREETURCHINE
January 16th, 2007, 05:38 AM
how big is the download.?yes i only get a 3 gig limit per month and just about burned it already..:D

msak007
January 16th, 2007, 05:40 AM
how big is the download.?yes i only get a 3 gig limit per month and just about burned it already..:D
I just downloaded it, 11.2 MB.

STREETURCHINE
January 16th, 2007, 05:43 AM
thanks i have bookmarked the link will download it next month,,:-D

ekka
January 16th, 2007, 05:49 AM
How do you convert the *chm (Windows Help File) format to any Linux readable format? or a pdf?

IusedTObeSOMEONEelse
January 16th, 2007, 05:49 AM
ok, forgive my stupidity, but once I download how do I access or read or whatever. It downloaded to desktop, sorry:confused:

msak007
January 16th, 2007, 05:52 AM
ok, forgive my stupidity, but once I download how do I access or read or whatever. It downloaded to desktop, sorry:confused:

Not stupidity at all, that's a perfectly valid question. Ubuntu doesn't have a chm viewer installed by default. Refer to this (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=325142&highlight=chm) thread for the answer.

ekka
January 16th, 2007, 05:55 AM
Why on earth will somebody write a book on Linux (and its pretty good one) in a restricted windows file format?

I think you need to install Gnome chm reader (or what ever it is called) to view it in Linux. If you have access to windows then just click on it and enjoy!


sudo apt-get install gnochm

msak007
January 16th, 2007, 06:08 AM
I didn't realize which book this was until I opened it up. Are you sure this is an official release and it's legal to download it for free? The book retails for $34.99, why would they release it for free?

IusedTObeSOMEONEelse
January 16th, 2007, 06:18 AM
Not stupidity at all, that's a perfectly valid question. Ubuntu doesn't have a chm viewer installed by default. Refer to this (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=325142&highlight=chm) thread for the answer.

Thank you kindly. I went to that site but I saw Ubuntu and kubuntu downloads. I use Xubuntu (gnome free, so I think)lol, I'm open for suggestions

ekka
January 16th, 2007, 06:20 AM
I didn't realize which book this was until I opened it up. Are you sure this is an official release and it's legal to download it for free? The book retails for $34.99, why would they release it for free?

I never said that it’s an Official Release nor I guarantee the legality of its download. I am just forwarding the link which I came across.

Real Newbie
January 16th, 2007, 06:55 AM
I downloaded the viewer >apps>add/remove.chm viewer. It is in my applications>accesories menu, I can't get to work. What am I doing wrong?

Thx

mdsmedia
January 16th, 2007, 06:55 AM
if it's published under the creative commons licence doesn't that mean it's free to distribute?

Sef
January 16th, 2007, 07:04 AM
if it's published under the creative commons licence doesn't that mean it's free to distribute?

Yes it is. The Official Ubuntu Book's copywrite (http://safari.oreilly.com/0132435942/copyrightpg). Here are the rights of this book under the creative commons license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/).

mahiyar
January 16th, 2007, 08:28 AM
Could it mean that a new book for version 6.10 is coming, like free CD is available for 6.06 .

vibinkgl
January 16th, 2007, 08:31 AM
Is it free download ? and useful ?

GermanFafian
January 16th, 2007, 08:50 AM
Is it free download ? and useful ?

Well if it is under the CC then it is free and legal.
As for the usability. I have the book and it has helped me a lot as I am still quite new to GNU/Linux. Most of the stuff can be found in the help files and on the net, but having a physical book to read in the subway on your way to work is nicee and practical. :twisted:

Quillz
January 16th, 2007, 09:30 AM
Thank you for the link! The book has been very helpful for me.

Win2Mac2Linux
January 16th, 2007, 09:52 AM
Thank you for the link. I definitely need it!!!

ekka
January 18th, 2007, 05:17 AM
The installed the ‘gnochm’ package to view the chm file, but its not as good as viewing the file under windows. Is there any way of converting the *chm file to either pdf or html?

Anyway the book is really well written and a nice way to start the Ubuntu journey.

bodycoach2
January 18th, 2007, 06:06 AM
I didn't realize which book this was until I opened it up. Are you sure this is an official release and it's legal to download it for free? The book retails for $34.99, why would they release it for free?

This is an example of where the current publishing technology is on its way out.

Cory Doctorow (http://www.craphound.com) GIVES his books away for free, as an ebook, online. In doing so, he's greatly increased the sales of the regular printed book. How many people (besides us geeks) do you know who've read an ebook? In todays Market, ebooks are mostly brochures for the dead tree version.

Another method writers use to promote their material is Podiobooks (http://www.podiobooks.com). With podiobooks, you can download the chapters of an audiobook, even subscribe to them. The cool thing about Podiobooks is that you pay for the material ONLY if you like it. How many books have you ever purchased, but never finished? How many have you purchased, but couldn't put down? Which author really deserved your money?

Things are changing, and as the T-Shirt says, "Your failed business model is NOT my problem!

ekka
January 18th, 2007, 06:25 AM
The one of the most difficult things for some one new to Linux is to find a guide which is comprehensive, up-to-date and related to your distro (and something which can be printed to be able to read offline!) I did manage to find some PDF’s and eBooks’ but most of them are outdated or not related to your specific distro.

‘The Official Ubuntu Book’ is the nearest to what I am looking for that I have ever come across.

bodycoach2
January 18th, 2007, 06:31 AM
I've purchased most of the currently available Ubuntu books (all for 6.06 LTS). The one I prefer and recommend is "Ubuntu Linux for Non Geeks". It's the one I recommend when I help someone setup an Ubuntu Desktop.


The one of the most difficult things for some one new to Linux is to find a guide which is comprehensive, up-to-date and related to your distro (and something which can be printed to be able to read offline!) I did manage to find some PDF’s and eBooks’ but most of them are outdated or not related to your specific distro.

‘The Official Ubuntu Book’ is the nearest to what I am looking for that I have ever come across.

haiku99
January 18th, 2007, 06:44 AM
there is some info on converting chm to html in Linux at http://madphilosopher.ca/2006/09/how-to-convert-chm-files-under-linux/
I couldn't get the page to open tonight, but was able to view the Google cached page OK...

ekka
January 18th, 2007, 07:16 AM
bodycoach2,

Apologies if I sound too greedy, but can I expect something like that for free?

ekka
January 18th, 2007, 07:17 AM
there is some info on converting chm to html in Linux at http://madphilosopher.ca/2006/09/how-to-convert-chm-files-under-linux/
I couldn't get the page to open tonight, but was able to view the Google cached page OK...

No the link is not working for me either:(

haiku99
January 18th, 2007, 09:27 AM
the link is back up now....

hellmet
January 21st, 2007, 08:56 PM
Well, I've been getting MB's and MB's of traffic over the past few days.
I was wondering if it were stupid bots. But, I realise it was this.:D
Great that I've been able to host a file for you guys.
Enjoy the book.

peresko
January 21st, 2007, 09:14 PM
chm = compiled html files.
you can also open them with a firefox extension (https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/3235/)
i prefer xchm (sudo apt-get install xchm) under gnome instead of gnochm, because the tree index isn't working well under gnochm

s26c.sayan
January 22nd, 2007, 07:42 AM
Nice to see people finding this chm so useful!!! :)
I found the download from somewhere in Orkut about a month ago, and recently I thought of uploading it again! Glad I did!!! :)

msak007
January 23rd, 2007, 04:30 AM
The installed the ‘gnochm’ package to view the chm file, but its not as good as viewing the file under windows. Is there any way of converting the *chm file to either pdf or html?
I just saw this (http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/decompile-chm-file-to-view-as-html.html) today, and think it might be what you're looking for. From what I gather, it'll extract the .chm file to html files so they can be viewed in your browser.

hellmet
January 29th, 2007, 03:21 PM
THERE IS a PDF version of the file on the forums of Ubuntu India
www.ubuntuforums.info

jaywee
May 5th, 2007, 05:47 PM
hmm. I want this book very much, but the link has been broken!faint!

thegreedyturtle
August 9th, 2007, 06:32 PM
I can't even believe you'ze guys are using Ubuntu and still wondering how something can be free and useful at the same time.

Wondering how something can be free online and sold for 30 bucks somewhere else is advanced GPL/CC though I guess.

perspectoff
August 9th, 2007, 06:47 PM
Yeah, it's like that "Linux site" that advertises only Microsoft and Novell products and rags continuously on Linux.

Sure.

Just say "Ubuntuguide".

wPwLUi3N
August 9th, 2007, 08:13 PM
Why would some write a ubuntu book in chm... sad.

Anyway anyone has a pdf version, cannot find it in the link above.

g2g591
August 9th, 2007, 08:55 PM
the links down, the one on the 1st page

smoker
August 9th, 2007, 10:57 PM
this link is working, just downloaded it, it is a zip file containing the chm book - funnily enough, the download is from the 'vista server!'
http://vntutor.blogspot.com/2007/07/official-ubuntu-book-download-free.html

fluteflute
August 15th, 2007, 04:28 PM
I noticed the server was down so heres an alternative link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?5hm4iwmgho1

regomodo
August 15th, 2007, 08:51 PM
this link is working, just downloaded it, it is a zip file containing the chm book - funnily enough, the download is from the 'vista server!'
http://vntutor.blogspot.com/2007/07/official-ubuntu-book-download-free.html

cheers, yours is the only link working.

shame about this .chm format

varm78
August 22nd, 2007, 12:40 AM
I found one in PDF format feel free to download.

http://www.dropshock.com/OfficialUbuntuBook.pdf (htthttp://www.dropshock.com/OfficialUbuntuBook.pdfp://)

regomodo
August 23rd, 2007, 10:50 AM
I found one in PDF format feel free to download.

http://www.dropshock.com/OfficialUbuntuBook.pdf (htthttp://www.dropshock.com/OfficialUbuntuBook.pdfp://)

your link is messed up


htthttp://www.dropshock.com/OfficialUbuntuBook.pdfp:// should be

http://www.dropshock.com/OfficialUbuntuBook.pdf

cheers all the same

MedivhX
August 23rd, 2007, 11:00 AM
What an irony... Official Ubuntu LINUX book in windows help format... LOL!

sanderella
August 23rd, 2007, 12:24 PM
Thanks for this link. I couldn't save a copy, the PDF setup wouldn't let me, so I had to copy and paste it into an OO document. This is good, because I can now download it onto my Ebook reader, and read it in bed. :)

Thanks for this things I learned from this thread.

happysmileman
August 23rd, 2007, 12:35 PM
Downloading now in PDF. Wasn't even going to bother getting it if I had to get it in CHM

qpieus
August 23rd, 2007, 06:28 PM
Anyone have an electronic copy of the Second Edition of this book? (assuming it's still CCL and free to redistribute). The second ed. was published within the last couple months.

edit - Benjamin Mako Hill's website links to this license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
so it looks like it's still free to share.

SpiritIsReality
August 28th, 2007, 12:47 AM
howdy

lookin for 2nd edition too

trails

macogw
August 28th, 2007, 01:12 AM
Thank you kindly. I went to that site but I saw Ubuntu and kubuntu downloads. I use Xubuntu (gnome free, so I think)lol, I'm open for suggestions

gnome and xfce use the same libraries, and anyway, it's not like you can't run kde apps on gnome or xfce or gnome apps on kde or xfce or xfce apps on gnome or kde....they can all work just fine

sanderella
August 28th, 2007, 10:15 AM
Thanks for this link. I couldn't save a copy, the PDF setup wouldn't let me, so I had to copy and paste it into an OO document. This is good, because I can now download it onto my Ebook reader, and read it in bed.

Actually this is illegal, as the book is copyright, so I took it off my ereader. It didn't format well, anyway.

Sikon
December 22nd, 2007, 09:43 AM
Actually this is illegal, as the book is copyright
Yes it is copyrighted, so what? Did you even read the CC-BY-SA license, or at least an explanation of the license? It IS legal to copy it.

Most of Ubuntu itself is copyrighted. But it's freely redistributable.