after years of using windows i'm finding ubuntu a bit counter-intuitive - i'm looking for a guide or manual that is written for people who want to get involved with the linux thing [especially ubuntu] but have no idea how it works - thanx

I can recommend this book...it's well written for those making the transition from Windows to Ubuntu Linux.

Ubuntu Kung Fu: Tips, Tricks, Hints, and Hacks
by Keir Thomas
www.amazon.com

It works pretty much like Windows. There's a program launcher (start menu). You click on that. You click on the submenu you want. And then you click on the program you want. The program will start. Making a comprehensive manual or guide for a Linux distribution would be next to impossible. There is a lot of documentation in /usr/share/doc. Also, Ubuntu is disguised Debian. What works for Debian works for Ubuntu. I only say this because there is a lot more Debian documentation than there is documentation specifically for Ubuntu. You can also the man program.

man <command> will bring up the manual page for <command>

There's a massive tome you can buy, called, I think, 'Ultimate Ubuntu', which looked pretty comprehensive. Ubuntu actually has pretty good online documentation, just google your question and add ubuntu to the end and you usually get a useful page.

/home/patti/Documents/ubuntupocketguide-v1-1.pdf

looks good to me.

Ubuntu Forums - Absolute Beginner Talk - http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=326


Basic Toolkit
1) Download the Linux Starter Pack - http://www.tuxradar.com/linuxstarterpack
2) Look at the UNOFFICIAL Ubuntu Guide - http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Jaunty
3) Look at Psychocats - http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu
4) Download the Ubuntu Pocket Guide and Reference - http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html