Another refugee from Windows XP

[gold_finger]

Already I am daunted - by the astonishing range of possible versions and variations of the Linux OSs.  When Windows comes in just one current OS, with maybe two or three editions, the proliferation of Linux options is confusing.

Welcome br1anstorm,

Yes -- can definitely be overwhelming!  Best to just pick one that is "newbie" friendly and start using it.  Linux Lite is a good one to try and most of what you need to do will not be done with command line.

I am also intimidated - by the extent to which Linux users seem to slide swiftly sideways into the gobbledegook of "cmd" language as a way of explaining or resolving issues.  As someone who has never responded to a command prompt in his life, I am already not looking forward to what happens when you "open a terminal" in Linux.

First -- the command line sounds much more scary than it is.  If you take the time to learn a few basics, you'll be just fine when/if you ever need to use it.

Second -- Not speaking for anyone but myself, I am definitely guilty of giving instructions that involve command line.  Why?  Because it's much quicker to get something done right and because it takes way too much time to try explaining the process of clicking through multiple layers of programs, files, etc.  A solution that can be done in one simple terminal command could take two or three paragraphs of explanations on how to navigate with GUI programs, clicking on various things along the way to get the same thing done.


If you're interested, here are a few good sources to get you going:

*** Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide
A free downloadable book that is a good beginner overview for Linux.  It's the fifth book down the list on this page:  Linux Documentation Project Guides.

*** The Ultimate Linux Newbie Guide

Command Line Basics:

*** Introduction to the Command Line

*** LINUX: Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition

*** Linux Shortcuts and Commands