how to learn linux?

Install it, use it for your every day tasks, don't go back to Windows if something doesn't work, but try to figure out why it doesn't work.
Also, read, read, read and try, try, try.

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go here:
http://distrowatch.com

Pick anything in the top 5 on their "hit list"---install it on your computer, and start using it.

Read and do.

http://linux.about.com/. It's oriented to Ubuntu, but it's full of good info.

http://tille.garrels.be/training/tldp/. Machtelt Garrels Intro to Linux.

http://www.slackbook.org/. Slackware oriented, but excellent on the basics, such as file structure, permissions, and the like.

Just keep trying. That's what I'm doing here on page 40 of a 42 page thread.
Don't give up.

http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz - good tutorial

If possible buy some little old inexpensive CPUs/Computets and setup your own home network having Linux router/firewall Apache/dns . And yes use it, try it. If something is not working NOT go back to windows or give up. Just fix it.

I found this advice on this form a couple of years ago.

Linux is not windows. No it isn't and you have to hunt sometimes to find out how some things work, where the commands are, where the preferences are, or what some things have different names. None of this takes surgery in the lower shells, but it may take a nights sleep before the answer comes to you.

Best of luck.

Thomas L

You mean this http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

Great advice.

Dear xshbo,
the link: http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

is fair enough but going from the restrictions of Windows to GNU/Linux is bewildering in its variety and so I would concentrate on the mainstream variants of 'Linux',i.e., those that are Debian or Red Hat (rpm) based. A good one to start with might be Mint on a 'Live' cd. You do not need the command line ( as powerful as it is) to use 'Linux'.
There is no substitute for trial and error, however, and there is much scope for error but you need not risk your system to do it; a small harmless program that lets you experiment with a text editor is 'vimtutor' that is often included with your "distro".

Fred.

If you are only looking to create a good desktop, then install something with a wide range of software, including different desktop environments and window managers, so that you can see which direction you want to go (either point and click like windows, or lower down to the commandline, and customization).

Thats what I did when I started out with linux in 2005. I also read a couple of books.

AND READ THESE FORUMS REGULARLY! Follow other users threads, and do what they are doing.

You should be like a sponge at this early stage, just soaking up information. Trying out different things just for the hell of it. Its fun

and at the end of it (which is where I am now for my needs, Im currently reinstalling my distro and updating config files for the last time) you will have a desktop that is customized and very efficient.