Perhaps I can give some advice to newbies.
Keep in mind that Unix based OS's are more or less designed by programmers for programmers. It is assumed that you are going to read all of the documentation that comes with the software and that you are going to follow those instructions. If it does not work, it is assumed that you are going to attempt to fix it and email the developer with a bug report, or about what you had to do to get it to compile. Does this mean that all Unix based software is BETA? Absolutely not, but keep in mind that this kind of exchange between developers and end-users is as old as the OS itself. This is the essence of Open Source, the developers and end-users both work on the software to make a better final product.
Conversely, the MS world assumes that you are not gouing to read the documentation, and that you would not know what the problem is and how to fix it. This is not bad, it is just the difference in who MS and Software developers for Windows have traditionaly sold software too.
Keep the 3 sacred commandments of Unix hackers in mind when running a Unix based OS:
#1 Read the documenation and instructions
(RTFM).
#2 Follow the instructions.
#3 See #1.
Of course Unix based OS's are not as easy as MS, but you are going to learn a crap load about computers, regardless of how much you think you know now.
