Learning Linux depends on where you look.
First stop is the local Linux users group. In our town, the computer users group, (MS based) started Linux classes and might split off on its own. Lucky you if you have a local Linux group.
The next stop is Google. Check out
http://www.linux-books.us/, they are in pdf format and free to download. YouTube has videos on various Linux distros and applications like Gimp and OpenOffice.org and AbiWord. Ubuntu has magazine download called Full Circle at
http://www.fullcirclemagazine.org/, check it out. Ubuntu offers training materials available at,
http://www.intelligentedu.com/blogs...sites/3724/ubuntu-710-desktop-training-course.
The trouble with Linux books and web sites is they put command line and compiling before GUI solutions. There is no need to saddle new users with those things unless they are really necessary. Old school Linux users need to get over it, GUIs and pre-compiled repositories are here. But if you need to, you need to.
Then you need to get Linux. The live-CD is the best teacher, hands-on. Linux is kind of designed for wired networks and internet, use that rather than wireless. Then if you need wireless and can get it, it's an added feature. The object is to learn Linux. Many laptop users say no wireless, no Linux. I say don't let wirelessness stop you. A little research will expose what wireless stuff works and which are a pain.
The last hat trick is on the users part. Concepts and attitudes about what to expect. The only thing that matters is the file formats, if they have the same format, they can share data. Linux applications do the same things in the same ways, with the same looks and feels as MS windows and Macs. Can I run MS apps in Linux? Yes with Wine or virtual machine but it is not guaranteed perfect, or stable.
Having tried many Linux distros, I recommend Ubuntu of any flavor. I am using Ubuntu 8.04 with Gnome desktop. I have only 512MB memory, I have perfect wobbly windows and transparency tricks running when not using the XP virtual machine. Smaller, leaner, older equipment might require a different approach. Try Puppy Linux, Damn Small Linux and Mepis Anti-X, these are all lean, low resource distros.
I hope I have helped. Learning Linux is not hard if you go ahead and do it. Some limitations with wireless and Windows games, other than that, what's stopping you! Go for it!
