Basics
Why linux?
http://www.linux.org/info/advocacy.html
Try before you emerge your self:
http://www.workspot.com/ (click on the demo to get an instant red hat desktop within your browser right now!)
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html or http://knoppix.net/ (download a bootable linux demo that autoconfigures itself while not touching any of the data on your harddisk).
finding the right distribution:
http://distrowatch.com/ (has links to most of the reviews and download mirrors too).
Check hardware compatability
http://hardware.redhat.com/hcl/
Buying the CDs
http://www.linuxcd.org/
for New Zealnad: http://www.linuxshop.co.nz/
Finding the right applications:
http://linuxshop.ru/linuxbegin/win-lin-soft-en/ [find an equivilant to your fav windows software]
http://linux.tucows.com/
http://www.linux.org/apps/index.html
http://sal.kachinatech.com/index.shtml
Tutorials:
http://www.tldp.org
http://www.linuxheadquarters.com/index.shtml
http://www.linuxquestions.org/
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/demos/
http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/v ... orials.jsp
Command line:
http://www.ctssn.com/
http://rute.sourceforge.net/
Getting help with specific hardware:
Modem (you may have to download the right drivers while you still can get online!)
http://www.linmodems.org/
Printing
http://www.linuxprinting.org/
Scanning:
http://www.mostang.com/sane/
Digital camera:
http://www.gphoto.org/
http://www.teaser.fr/~hfiguiere/linux/digicam.html
DV camera or firewire:
http://www.linux1394.org/
http://kino.schirmacher.de/
Misc sites
Remote admin:
http://www.webmin.com/ [web interface to completely administer computer over TCP/ip default port 10000]
http://www.openssh.com/ [Secure shell, probably already installed]
Client tools to log in remotly:
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/ [putty - windows client for ssh]
http://winscp.sourceforge.net/eng/ [windows client for secure copy - great for transfering files from linux to windows remotely]
http://www.jfitz.com/tips/ssh_for_windo ... sion2.html [how to use above tools]
Database admin:
http://www.phpmyadmin.net/ or http://phppgadmin.sourceforge.net/ [web based admin for postgresql or mysql]
http://www.aquafold.com/ [non opensource but free cross platform db tool]
Find software for a specifc task:
http://freshmeat.net/ [index of 1000s of opensource projects]
windows programs under linux:
http://www.winehq.com/ [allows running of windows programs under linux]
http://www.codeweavers.com/home/ [comericial, office / quicktime under linux]
http://www.netraverse.com/ [win4lin lets you install windows within linux]
http://www.vmware.com/ [creates a virtual PC within which another OS can be installed to run simultaneously]
Gaming:
http://www.transgaming.com/ [comericial, directx games under linux]
http://happypenguin.org/news
http://www.linuxgames.com/
Running linux tools under windows:
http://www.cygwin.com/
Linux News:
http://desktoplinux.com/ [news on linux use on desktops]
http://slashdot.org [all kindsa interesting news for geeks]
http://www.linuxdevices.com/ [linux in devices]
http://opensector.org/ [opensource in govenments]
Humour:
http://i-want-a-website.com/about-linux/
Hope you have a fun enjoyable experience, if you need more help just search http://www.google.com/linux or ask at a forum such as this!
Jubal
Edit:Added a few more links.
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