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The SUSE LINUX User Guide was written to introduce the Linux operating system and its wealth of applications to Linux novices. Get to know your choices for a Linux desktop and learn how to configure and control it. Despite its aim towards novices, it still provides a variety of information helpful for the experienced user.
The SUSE LINUX User Guide consists of six major parts featuring the following aspects of your SUSE LINUX system:
Get started with Linux. Learn how to manage your desktop and how to perform basic administrative tasks. A comprehensive list comparing Windows and Linux applications helps you find the appropriate Linux counterparts of your favorite Windows applications. As for the desktop, choose from two alternatives—GNOME or KDE—and learn more about their strengths and highlights. Finally, learn where to get more information and help for your Linux system.
OpenOffice.org is a powerful substitute for any Office suite you might have used under Windows or Mac OS. Learn how to use it and how to migrate your existing data. Linux also provides two fully-fledged personal information management suites, Evolution and Kontact. Both offer e-mail, calendar, address management, and many other functionalities.
Linux offers two great browser alternatives: Firefox and Konqueror. Get to know how to use them and how to enjoy many smart little add-on features. A chapter about the KDE encryption tool, KGpg, shows you how to secure your Internet communication.
Linux offers many players both for video and audio media. You can also use Linux software to create and edit your own movies or music recordings. If digital image processing is your scene, try GIMP, which easily rivals Adobe Photoshop. Easy-to-use scanning applications and album software for your digital photo collection are also provided.
Similar to the DOS shell, a Linux system offers a powerful shell environment that can be used to interact directly with the operating system. Learn about the basic principles behind that functionality and get some hands-on experience using the most important shell commands featured in this section.
The SUSE LINUX FAQ contains some of the most frequently asked questions regarding SUSE LINUX. Feel free to contribute and send us your suggestions.
If looking for in-depth information about the SUSE LINUX installation process or system administration, refer to the SUSE LINUX Administration Guide. It introduces installation and configuration with YaST and gives background knowledge for many services and applications running on your Linux machine.
The following is a list of the changes introduced in this guide, as compared to the previous version (SUSE LINUX 9.2):
A new chapter about basic concepts helps new users. See Chapter 1, First Contact.
If you are new to SUSE LINUX, coming from Windows, a list of equivalent programs under Linux is a valuable aid. See Chapter 2, Getting to Know Linux Software.
The GNOME and KDE chapters have been revised. See Chapter 3, The GNOME Desktop and Chapter 4, The KDE Desktop.
The help chapter has been revised. It contains more information about man and info pages, guides, books. and other resources. See Chapter 5, Help and Documentation.
The former chapters of KMail and KOrganizer have been transferred to the new Kontact chapter. See Chapter 8, Kontact: An E-Mail and Calendar Program.
Konqueror has been enhanced with information about tabbed browsing and other small improvements. See Chapter 10, The Web Browser Konqueror.
There is a new Firefox chapter. See Chapter 11, Firefox.
The chapter about digital cameras has been updated and expanded. It contains more information about Digikam. See Chapter 16, Digital Cameras and Linux.
