i'm currently bored stiff with making windows/console/dos programs and quite generally want something new to do . im only a ASM rookie and have just only been programming ASM for about a month, however as a programmer i've worked with C for a year or 2. I've read tutorial after tutorial and crammed it all my head so im not that experienced, so i fear i may be being a bit too ambitious here. I quite generally need somewhere to start, after looking through the net i was unable to find any decent tutorials (save me some money and suggest one if you know any), so i've had a look on amazon to find "Operating Systems: Design and Implementation (Second Edition)" by by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Albert S. Woodhull. however before i part with my cash i would just like to ask if there are any better books or an online tutorial?

i found the new and used button on amazon ....got it for $13 (thats including international shipping). i haven't got a reply yet so im not if its what i need .

I think your best bet is to stay away from books, as most are for more advanced users and C programmers.
The best way to learn OS programming is to start simple (eg: bootable "hello world!" progs) and work your way to more complected bootable programs.
You should aim to make programs like these: http://board.flatassembler.net/topic.php?t=2164
Get the code and study them, at the same time read as many on line tuts as you can.
Also join other peoples OS projects, as help out will teach you a lot.

If you just want something interesting to do, try downloading a new compiler or two.

FreeBASIC
FreePascal
Reva
CC386
OpenWatcom
Brainf...ed

As far as Minix is concerned, it's now at 3.1.1, and the newest edition of the book is available ($103 USD, 1080pp, new). If you've had experience with Minix before, go ahead and buy the second edition (cheap enough, right?). If not, try a live CD of the new Minix or mess around with the old DOS-Minix.

well based on ure replies id better get on google and start searchin for some tuts . ill take a look at the topic and grab as much code as i can hopefully ill be able to figure it out. The book apparently has good theory so that should come in handy in a few weeks when it actually gets delivered. as for compilers i think im going to stick with my MinGW GCC C compiler and FASM (not exactly a compiler but you know what i mean).