Hi all. I've been into computers since I was a kid of course but I'm really not the expert people think I am. I've been meaning to get into Linux for years now but I must have some learning difficulties and impatience because I always get intimidated, but I think it's time to get to it.

I'm surprised I even need to ask this first question:

Just installed Linux Mint Cinnamon 15 64. Why can't I see open applications on the panel?

So many other questions!

Welcome to LQ lutello!
Which desktop environment do you use? What panel are you talking of?

Cheers,
J

Right-click on the panel, select Cinnamon Window list, then click Add to panel

Welcome! When posting be sure to give us a descriptive subject line (in your case "Opening Application in Panel in Cinnamon").

This helps ensure people who can help you find your post when scrolling through all the new posts out there.

Hi lutello, your post and way of writing is interesting. Can't agree more with this 'I've been into computers since I was a kid of course but I'm really not the expert people think I am.' I'm in computers for really long hours everyday and people assume me to be an expert. But reality is I don't know what am I doing in computer for so long and not know many things that others know. Funny truth!

1 members found this post helpful.

I was gonna do that from the start but decided not to because this was an informal intro.

Just got this advice from somewhere else, but it's not working. Should I try uninstalling it?

Speaking of installing, seems like with Linux it's either super easy with software managers or super hard command line stuff if they don't have it and do it for you. I should certainly learn about that anyway, but it seems you need to know it just to get something running, unlike windows or even DOS to an extent.

I'd love to get a decent sounding text to speech program running that monitors the GUI clipboard for Firefox, etc. (I blame it on my poor eyesight, but maybe I'm lazy too.)

What are the best online sources including videos to help get me started?

This actually quite common and nothing to apologize for.

People who have to do work with computers often learn how to do what they need to do, and to do it very well. The fact that my girlfriend is a whiz at MS Word and desktop publishing (she edits magazines and newsletters) doesn't mean she knows computers. It means she knows desktop publishing.

Lots of people know how to drive cars. Not many understand fuel injection (I know I don't).

I meant that I personally wish I knew the inner workings a little more and should have been learning more for years, but that's enough self deprecation for now!

It is never too late, just stick with it, with time your will master whatever new OS you try. Google search will be your friend just make sure the article you are reading is withing recent date.

I have never use Cinnamon so I cant help you with that but you said you had many other questions and I saw noone.

Good luck to you

Maybe I'll post some more but I'll try to read up some more first.

As TroN-0074 said, it's never to late to learn.

We all started out knowing nothing about computers, every single one of us.

Ignorance has a virtue--it can be cured.

Remember the old time management question:

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Pick something you want to learn (navigating Cinnamon, editing a photo in the GIMP, whatever) and research it. It's like how I clean house; instead of thinking about how big the house is, clean one room at a time.

There's no reason why a regular distro like mint shouldn't install correctly - unless you are using a computer with an older hardware / configuration or some special hardware. This being the case, if you recall, you should detail the steps in the install and particularly the prompts and responses that you used. This will help the people in this forum to help you. Remember to note the configuration and particularly make / model / driver of peripherals etc.

If you don't remember, then you should try to reinstall it. BEFORE REINSTALLING, REMEMBER THAT IF YOU HAVE INSTALLED LINUX ALONGSIDE AN EXISTING PARTITION, THEN BACK UP YOUR IMPORTANT DATA.

If it's an old computer, then you can go in for an older distro.

All the best in your endeavours.

OK