Roderick W. Smith's Web Page

This is the web page of Roderick W. Smith, aka rodsbooks.com. On sub-pages accessible from this one you'll find information about me, my interests, and the books I've written. You'll also find links to outside sites I find worthwhile.

I'm the author of several books on Linux and multi-OS computing, including:

• Special Edition Using Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux. I've also written a web page on WordPerfect for Linux fonts and printers, and have a list of books on WordPerfect and other productivity programs for Linux.
• Linux: Networking for Your Office. You may also want to check my recommended Linux networking books.
• The Multi-Boot Configuration Handbook. This book covers configuring a single x86 computer to run multiple OSs.
• Linux Hardware Handbook. This is a guide to x86 hardware from a Linux perspective, including compatibility and tips on getting the most from the hardware.
• Linux Samba Server Administration. This is a guide to the popular Samba package for providing file- and printer-sharing services for Windows systems on a Linux or Unix server.
• Linux+ Study Guide. This is a basic guide to Linux, written with the requirements of the Linux+ certification exam by CompTIA in mind.
• Broadband Internet Connections: A User's Guide to DSL and Cable. This is a look at consumer broadband technologies (primarily DSL and cable modems), including information on the technologies themselves and how to get the most out of them using any OS.
• Advanced Linux Networking. This book is a broad-based book on Linux networking, but it goes into more depth than most other general Linux networking books, such as my Linux: Networking for Your Office.
• FreeBSD: The Complete Reference. This book is a reference and tutorial on the FreeBSD operating system.
• Linux Power Tools. This book is a general Linux books, but assumes some basic familiarity with Linux and addresses more advanced topics than do most general Linux books.

I have additional web pages with recommendations on books covering some additional topics:

• Introductory books on Linux
• Miscellaneous Linux and computer books
• My favorite non-computer books

In addition to these books, I've written several web pages that enjoy varying degrees of popularity. They are:

• GPT fdisk for Linux
• "Should I Buy OS/2 Warp?"
• OS/2 Soundcard Summary
• Large hard drives under OS/2 mini-FAQ
• Adding fonts to Linux ApplixWare
• Printers and fonts in WordPerfect for Linux
• Linux Distributions Guide
• Linux on a Compaq Presario 1200-XL106
• My review of the I, Robot film

I've started to build a career out of one of my interests: computers. I'm particularly intersted in Linux and other Open Source software. I've written a few small C and Pascal programs, but mostly programming isn't my cup of tea, as it were. Instead, I enjoy learning about system administration, networking, and so on, and sharing that knowledge with others. I regularly read and post to Linux newsgroups.

Another interest of mine is science fiction. I've got a web page with some of my favorite SF books. I'm also a big fan of Babylon 5, which has done more for the medium of TV science fiction (or TV in general) than anything to come before it. Sadly, I don't have as much time to read science fiction as I'd like.

I enjoy long walks. Living near Boston, I often walk along the Charles River, especially in the summer. In the summer of 1999, I took up sailing at Community Boating. I didn't really get very good at it in one season, but I did manage to capsize a boat once! (It was a squishy trip home after they pulled me out of the river.)

• Born November 18, 1965 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
• Raised primarily in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• I have one sister.
• I went to college at Oberlin College in Ohio.
• I did graduate work in psychology at The University of Michigan and at Tufts University, and got my PhD in cognitive psychology from the latter.
• I've done postdoctoral research in cognitive psychology at various institutions since then.
• I enjoy science fiction, computers, and an occasional binge of photography.
• I live in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
• I've voted in 14% of the states of the US. (That sounds more impressive than "seven states.")

Those who know me but who haven't heard from me recently may wonder why I've dropped out of the academic race. The answer is simple: It was becoming way too frustrating! Between the glut of cognitive psychology PhDs on the job market and a few rabid reviewers, I'd had my fill of it, which is why I've moved on to other things.

Here are a bunch of links to other things I find interesting:

• Oberlin College Psychology Department
• Oberlin College Alumni Information
• The SETI At Home project, where I contribute to the Oberlin College Alumni team.
• The Dilbert Zone
• User Friendly
• Death Gets a Website
• The Urban Legends References Pages
• Linux information
• NPR's Science Friday show.
• The New York Times on the web.
• The Electronic Frontier Foundation, which advocates free speech and other rights in the digital age.
• The Best Viewed With Any Browser campaign.

So, if you've gotten this far and would like to contact me, drop me some e-mail at rodsmith@rodsbooks.com.