I'm the most clued-out newbie on earth
 

Okay, well, I feel like a moron. I just installed Mandrake v.8.1 and I have no idea how to use it, user friendly as it may be. I cannot seem to find how to even browse through a CD on which I put some software I will be needing. Please help me as I know no commands and am the biggest newbie on earth.

well, not to be rude or mean but there are tons of commands to use in the *nix world. it might be best for you to first maybe pickup a book on Linux and you can check out online documentation as well, www.linuxdoc.org is a good place for all the linux howto's.
http://linux.ctyme.com/ is a good place for the man pages online, giving you info on all the linux commands.

here are a few commands to start you off..

ls - lists the files in a directory
cd - changes directory
pwd - prints the current directory your in
mount - mounts a drive ( cd, floppy..etc )
startx - starts X, GUI interface

if you need info on using commands, type:

man command-name-here

Welcome to linux..

-trickykid

Thanks a lot trickykid, but it still doesn't help. I have a guide but it has told me nothing. Those commands are well known to me, it's just how to use them that completely baffles me. I use the KDE -or whatever it's called- GUI but is there no way that I can go to something where I can browse a CD as I browse my HD? I mean, if it's gonna be this insane, where I have to enter a whole string of commands just to load a CD then I might as well simply stick to my Windows partition. I mean, reformatting and just using something as simple as Windows 2000 can easily be done if it means not having to learn 50 different commands, abbreviations and system settings just to browse through a CD. I am usually pretty swift with computers, but this user-friendliness mixed with cold-hearted almost DOS-like commands is just too much for me. Are there any tutorials for people who are completely used to WINDOWS? If there are, please let me know because I'm starting to feel that the Linux partition I made is becoming somewhat of a waste.

the partition is only a waste if you dont want to take some time (lots of it) to figure things out.

to mount a cd, if everything is set up ok, which it probably is with mandrake, just type: mount /dev/cdrom

dont give up on linux so easily. mounting a drive isnt something windows users can grasp all that easily, but if you research the file systems and the way everything is set up, it makes alot of sense. try sites like linuxnewbie.org and the such, they are pretty helpful.

Also a clueless newbie...
 

I started using linux about a year ago, and have only recenly made the complete switch. I haven't had the time it needed, but now I can do everything I could do on windows and more - with the added bonus of not having to restart the machine on a regular basis.

I well remember not being able to browse a floppy. But, it turned out to be a good thing, because I learned alot in just figuring out how to do that simple task -- how the file system is set up, permissions, using the mount program....

In windows I pressed a button and the materials on the floppy were there, but I had no clue as to how they were accessed.

Learning linux take alot of time (err, well it does for me anyway!), but the reward is worth it. You really feel great when you when you get something done on it, and you figured it out on your own, and you have taken the mystery out of it. I have sooo much more to learn, but I keep myself going in knowing that every problem I come accross is just a learning oppertunity. For example, I'm trying to build a Linux From Scratch system (just for fun), and I can't get it to boot.. The only thing left to do is to sit down and learn the boot process up and down. Sure, it's the long way around, but will definately be worth it.

So head to the library, bookstore, or some resourceful website, and hammer it out. Good luck, and have fun!!!!

no one ever said linux was easy. it wasn't made to be easy in this stage its in right now. knowing more commands in linux will get you further than just knowing how to click your mouse on pretty gui icons and windows.. don't try to rush learning linux or don't make a total switch to it... but learn as you go is the best way to learn linux.
and if you research and study, there are easier ways around to browse cd's and such... but its always good to know the command as well, but you never know every command, that is why they have man pages and such for reference.

-trickykid

TunedLow is absolutly right. I second that.

Switching to Linux
 

I started my Windows --> Linux journey in December and have switched 90% of my use to pure Linux. As soon as I can run Quicken, then Windoze goes the way of the do-do bird, at least at home. I still have to deal with Windoze 2000 and 10 minute reboots at work.

It is worth it!!!!