The ubiquitous solar-still advice is there, too.
I'm convinced that solar stills continue to be mentioned merely out of habit. Akin to an urban legend that's perpetuated without being questioned. Seawater? Perhaps another story altogether.
We likely have one or more of the same desert books – and I tend to believe them. To be honest, I've never tried one, but have heard many, many firsthand stories of failure.
Dan