Introduction

Welcome to the Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide!

By now, you should have read the Official Red Hat Linux Installation Guide and successfully installed Red Hat Linux. This manual is designed to help new and intermediate Linux users navigate and perform common tasks. Keep in mind that Linux looks, feels, and performs differently from other operating systems you may have used. Forget about the conventions of other operating systems and, with an open mind, approach Red Hat Linux as a new, interesting, and versatile alternative.

This manual is task-oriented. You will find useful tips, hints, warnings, and screen shots interspersed throughout. First, you will learn the basics of using Red Hat Linux, such as customizing a desktop, configuring a printer, and getting online. Once the basics are covered, the tasks covered in this manual become progressively more advanced.

Most users choose to work within either the GNOME or KDE graphical desktop environments (other desktop environments are also available). The Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide focuses primarily on how to perform tasks in these two environments.

Topics discussed include:

After conquering the basics of your Red Hat Linux system, you may need information on more advanced topics. You can find this information in the Official Red Hat Linux Customization Guide and the Official Red Hat Linux Reference Guide.

HTML and PDF versions of the Official Red Hat Linux manuals are available on the Documentation CD and online at http://www.redhat.com/docs/.

NoteNote
 

Although this manual reflects the most current information possible, you should read the Red Hat Linux Release Notes for information that may not have been available prior to our documentation being finalized. They can be found on the Red Hat Linux CD #1 and online at:

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux

Changes to This Manual

This manual has been expanded to include new features in Red Hat Linux 7.3 as well as topics requested by our readers. Changes to this manual include:

Email Applications

The Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide has been reorganized to include a chapter on using popular email clients including Evolution, KMail, and Mozilla Mail.

Web Browsing

The Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide has been reorganized to include a chapter on using various Web browsers including Mozilla, Galeon, Nautilus, and Konqueror.

Working with Images

The Manipulating Images with GIMP chapter has been renamed Working with Images. This chapter now includes information on the latest version of the GIMP as well as GQView and Electric Eyes.

The KDE Desktop Environment

This chapter has been updated for KDE 3.0.

The GNOME Desktop Environment

This chapter revised to include more information on Nautilus.

Diskettes, CD-ROMs and CD-Rs

The Diskettes, CD-ROMs and CD-Rs chapter has been added with instructions on mounting and using (floppy) diskettes and CD-ROMs as well as a section on using CD-writables (CD-Rs) and CD-rewritables (CD-RWs) with Red Hat Linux.