To get started on learning how to use your shiny new Operating System, I'd like to propose the following: whenever you get stuck or feel the need for some more information, read the documentation that came with your system. Yeah, I know it's a real shocker, but few people actually ever pay attention to that.

For instance, in Mandrake you go from the start-button to Documentation, then select the Howtos. Many programs also have their own built in documentation. KDE and Gnome, the two major Desktop Environments, both have excellent online help files. In Gnome, go from 'start' (the footprint) to 'help' which starts 'Yelp'. In KDE, all KDE applications have a help entry on the menu at the top, where you can select '[Application] Handbook'. OpenOffice.org is another group of programs with extensive online documentation.

You may also use Konqueror (KDE's multipurpose filebrowser) to read manual pages (manpages) for commands and programs. If you are using KDE, click the 'home' icon on your taskbar (panel) or desktop. Then, in the location field (where it says: file:/home/[yourusername] -- see image)

just enter
man:/[command]
Or, even simpler, if you are browsing this page with Konqueror (yes it is also a webbrowser, with the same engine as Mac OS X's Safari, KHTML), you can click the above link. Note that even if you are using Gnome, you can do this as long as Konqueror is properly installed.
Of course you have to substitute [command] for the command or program you would like more information about. If you don't enter a [command], Konqueror will take you to the main index. Note a neat feature of Konqueror when you start typing your [command] -- Konqueror shows the remaining possibilities in the drop down part.

Those who prefer the Command Line Interface (CLI) can of course also read the manpages by entering
man [command]
into any terminal window.
I know that for people who are not familiar with manpages, they come across as cryptic, mostly due to their scientific format, but after getting used to them, one quickly realises manpages are a very welcome and powerful part of the GNU/Linux system and software.
An alternative that is generally considered easier to read for the novice, but which may not be available for a program you want to know more about, are the info pages. In Konqueror:
info:/[command]
or on the command line:
info [command]
will get you plenty of information about the use of certain commands and programs.

To find out more, you can also read books, magazines and websites, search the web, newsgroups and forums.

And most of all, if you get stuck, remember the Three C's.

source: www.mandrake.tips.4.free.fr