I'm relatively new to Linux. I have it installed as a dual boot configuration with Windows XP on my laptop. I have an Acer Aspire 3003LCI. I currently have Fedora Core 4 installed and have most of the things working that I currently want to work. I want to learn more about linux and how to configure it. I have installed Linux because I am taking a Introductory to Unix class this semester and I believe it will be a benefit to have a Unix based system to work with.

I've already located what I believe is the information I will need to get wireless networking setup on my system. But there are several other things I would like to get setup and I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction to get these done.

1.) I'd like to know what you think are the best links for Newbies to start with. The last time I installed and successfully used Linux it was more than 5 years ago and you had to install and configure X on your own. The system booted to a command line and not right to X.

2.) I'd like to know if I can run a slit desktop between 2 monitors like I do with Windows XP. Fedora Core 4 sees both my LCD Display, and my external monitor and they both run at the same resolution but there doesn't seem to be an obvious option to split the desktop between the 2 screen.

3.) Can I mount my NTFS Windows Drive as a drive when I am in Linux? Is it safe and recommended?

4.) I run an Exchange2003 server and I'm wondering if I can connect to with it with one of the Linux mail clients? I'd imagine that I can but I'm wondering what is the best option IMAP or POP3?

As I stated in the beginning I'd really like to learn more about Linux and more than anything I'd like advise here. If you wouldn't mind sharing with me how you started with Linux (i.e. books or links) you read to get a grasp on everything that is going on I would be very appreciative. And I promise to try and share my knowledge once I have some built up that may be of use to someone.

Thanks in Advance,
Stephen

1) I like Tux Magazine for general use type articles. Since I use Debian, I like the Ubuntu Guide (it's actually for Ubuntu linux, but I can usually figure out how to make it work on Debian). Sorry, I had a bunch more but I just realized I lost all my bookmarks with a HD fail last week. Oh well, you'll find some. I definitely like linuxquestions.org.

2) I'm sure you can, but I don't know how.

3) You can mount NTFS. Read only mounting is pretty safe. Write support is like playing Russian roulette. It's better to create a shared FAT32 partition to use files from both Linux and Windows.

4) I think it depends on the server setup, but I know Evolution is supposed to be the "Outlook" replacement. I set up my sister in law to use Mozilla Thunderbird at school using IMAP. My understanding is that IMAP leaves the messages on the server, and POP3 downloads them and usually erases them from the server. So if you want your messages from a webmail application at your friends house, you can get them with IMAP. But if you don't ever want access to them except from your laptop, POP3 works just as well.

1.
There tons of stuffs out there. I say there is no one best docs because
what best for you may not be best for me. Same with distro.

Take a surf thru

http://shengchieh.50webs.com/index.html
-> documentations
-> intro.

and see what's good for you.

-> desktop and -> others also might be of interest to you.

Sheng-Chieh