About this User Guide

This book is divided into four parts. Part I is an introduction to Linux basics. We first discuss the Linux paradigm by comparing it to other OSes in Chapter 1, Migrating to Linux from Windows®. We wrote Chapter 2, First Connection especially to help out new users. In it we describe the first steps and the screens you will see once you log on to your Mandrake Linux system. Chapter 3, Linux for Beginners also targets new users and explains concepts such as “logging in/out”, and security tips. It also quickly introduces KDE and GNOME, two popular graphical environments.

Then, Chapter 4, Where to Get Documentation will guide you through a fairly exhaustive list of documentation sources which you can consult in order to attain a better Linux knowledge. A Mandrake Linux-specific section points to numerous in-house resources which you can find on the Net. We also speak about the very popular KDE graphical environment in Chapter 5, Using KDE as well as another favorite, GNOME, in Chapter 6, Using GNOME. These two chapters will help you get around your new desktop, add icons to it, and the like.

Part II will show you how to use two of Mozilla's embedded applications: the browser (Chapter 7, Surfing with Mozilla) and the mail client (Chapter 8, Mail Client: Mozilla).

Part III gives a short description of everyday applications such as file managers (Section , “Konqueror and Nautilus”), digital cameras (Section , “Digital Photo Cameras”), scanners (Section , “Installing and Using Scanners”), CD burning (Section , “CD Burning”) as well as webcam and video conferencing applications (Section , “Webcams And Video Conferencing”).

Part IV goes through more technical aspects of a Mandrake Linux system:

Thank you for choosing Mandrake Linux and have fun!