Newbie (n00b) 101 -- A place to start

[ZabiGG]

After tearing my hair off with Vista for months (I bought a new computer, but they wouldn't let me have the OS of my choice), due to the fact that networking with my old PC and installing the software I need for work on a daily basis was sometimes a pain, sometimes not secure, and sometimes plainly impossible, I decided to give Linux a try.

The most popular choice appeared to be Ubuntu, so I leaped and did a dual install, keeping Vista for graphics-heavy games.

And I'm hooked. Haven't booted Vista once since, except to strip it down from the loads of junk that I have no longer any use for on my hard drive.

But this foray in the Ubuntu/Linux universe took A LOT of research (weeks, actually). Don't misinterpret me -- there is information aplenty out there...

... just TOO much to take in -- and no "one-stop starting place" for a poor newbie.

For instance, I wasted hours on end learning the basics of EMacs (a great tool, but very complex) when all I actually needed were the terminal commands (another beast entirely). I wouldn't have wasted days either trying to set up a chroot for 32-bit programs on my 64-bit system, because I would have known that they were compatible in Hardy without too much fuss.


So here's a place to start.

If this can help any other n00bs LOVE their new system as much as I do, here's my Ultimate n00b reference list. If such a list had existed when I first logged in to the Absolute Beginners section of this site, I would have saved days of research (and probably a lot of forum users from having to answer basic questions they had probably already answered a thousand times). So I hope it helps!

Here are what I've personally found to be the Ultimate Useful Threads and Links for the Ultimate n00b:

This forum 101
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=726219
The basics of this forum... beans and all!
new: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php...2&postcount=55
Forum sections demystified
new: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=796449
Newbie 101 Part 2: How to search this forum and get the best possible help

Distro 101
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=709685
A short and clear explanation of the difference between distro families
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_distribution
More details about distros

Linux 101
http://www.linux-tutorial.info/
What is linux? What is a kernel? How does it work? How does it relate to Ubuntu?

Ubuntu 101
new: http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Hardy
Great guide to Hardy Heron. Very complete
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/
All there is to know about Ubuntu
http://www.appscout.com/2007/08/ubun...terminal_1.php
Great general introductory article for people who are unsure about Ubuntu
new: http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfec...ts-hardy-heron
Want to set up the perfect desktop? It's right there

Hardy 101
http://ubuntulinuxtipstricks.blogspo...y-upgrade.html
Tips and tricks specific to Hardy Heron

EDIT May 16
Dual install 101
http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/
Clear, accessible and illustrated guide

Documentation 101
https://help.ubuntu.com/
Official Ubuntu documentation site, but you need to understand the jargon and how everything works before diving into this one

Terminal (and shell -- your actual OS) 101
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=73885
A great intro to all things terminal
http://www.linuxcommand.org/index.php
Explains HOW your system works so you actually understand all of those weird command lines experienced forum users like so much

Ubuntu install and how-to 101
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=706813
A great sticky with much, much useful basic information
Ubuntu Installation from the Community Help Wiki
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation
Another great source for install 101

Tutorials and tips 101
http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=100
A convenient forum section well hidden under everything else

Typing codes 101
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ComposeKey
An alternative for heavy keyboard users used to working with ALT (and Unicode) codes instead of having to copy/paste with the mouse from the character map
http://www.hermit.org/Linux/ComposeKeys.html
List of compose key sequences

Applications 101
http://linuxappfinder.com/all
Available applications for your linux system, along with descriptions and links
http://www.monkeyblog.org/ubuntu/ins...a_repositories
How to install anything in Ubuntu
new: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=781352
A thoroughly complete application installation guide

Latest applications 101
http://www.getdeb.net/
You heard it first, Newbies. Now use them!

Various sound, video, wireless issues and problems, and more!

EDIT May 15: By the way, you will encounter the following expressions a lot. This explanation is nice and short. There is more detailed information about these "supercommands" in the generous links above

Sudo- "superuser-do" for administrative/root priviledges. Use for commands and applications that run in a command line interface only.

Gksu- "graphical sudo" for commands and applications that launch a GUI from the terminal. Makes sure you don't mess up file privileges with a graphical application in superuser mode.

the equivalent of Gksu if you are using a KDE look-and-feel option is kdesu

Added May 14, 2008

Specially contributed section
Credit, where credit is due

I'm lucky enough to have very helpful eminent readers From now on, new links proposed will be quoted here.

Guide to Forum Features
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=726219
Thanking, beans, titles, searching, and more. Plus another thread by aysiu to post more if you think it needs it.

Ubuntu Installation from the Community Help Wiki
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation
Community maintained page, full of tons of information useful when installing.

Another very useful site.
http://www.getdeb.net/
Although a lot of apps are aleady in the repos

For searching I recommend http://crunchbang.org/ubuntu-search-engine/
A custom Google Search Engine providing results from Ubuntu related sites

woohoo, I made the list!

Yup. It's up there, somewhere

EDIT, May 17 -- And the list of contributed links continues here. Don't forget to check it too!

Many, many thanks to all of the great people who took the time to create such useful documentation. This n00b keeps going back to learn more! And the links keep growing. You guys are awesome (gush, I have reverted back to my teenage years?)

Now, if I could only find open source equivalents to SDLX (professional CAT software with translation memories and termbases) and Antidote, I'd be in heaven!

Cheers,

ZabiGG

[Pushkaraj2020]

Thanks Sir! This really helps. I am totally new to Linux. And I have heard lot of bad things about Vista. I would definitly like to switch to Linux. thanks for giving me a direction.

[ZabiGG]

My pleasure...

And I prefer Ma'am, BTW

Happy reading! I'm sure enjoying mine... hehehe

Currently reading this greatly informative hands-on:

http://tille.garrels.be/training/tldp/index.html

[TomDaBomb2u]

Wow. This is fantastic! Thanks!

[Malta paul]

Hi, Glad to hear you are enjoying Ubuntu, Ref Linux CAT you may like to take a look at:
http://www.translatorscafe.com/cafe/...d=8756&posts=2
Have fun

[SlappyPappy]

Thank you madame, nice linkies.

BTW if you're getting stumped and have spent over 7 minutes trying to figure out why, post a Q here and people will get back to you pretty quickly if it's a simple answer to fulfill the question.

I've done something similar to what you were doing, trying to figure out VirtualBox. I spent about a day and then finally posted a question, got a quick response and I was on my way. It's cool working hard to figure some of this stuff out but if a quick Q is all it takes, by all means ask it here!

Enjoy!

[H.Callahan]

Bookmarked!

Thanks!

[philinux]

Another very useful site.

http://www.getdeb.net/

Although a lot of apps are aleady in the repos

[ZabiGG]

Wow, thank you all so much for your input! And keep those links coming, I'm sure all newbies will appreciate them as much as I do

Special thanks for the translator's cafe link. I'll dive into it as soon as I finish my current read.

Cheers,

ZabiGG

[ZabiGG]

BTW if you're getting stumped and have spent over 7 minutes trying to figure out why, post a Q here and people will get back to you pretty quickly if it's a simple answer to fulfill the question.

I know

But I'm just a geek at heart -- although not yet very linux savvy -- and I figure knowledge is power.

I do hope there are still a few people like me who enjoy knowing instead of just copying (lol)

Happy day to you!

ZabiGG