Time for some Ubuntu zealotry…
As regular readers will be aware I think that Ubuntu is the easiest ways for people to join the ranks of Linux users. On the up side it’s easy to install (and getting easier) , easy to use, and usually “just works.” (Fujitsu laptop screens notwithstanding).
But moving to a new neighbourhood always can be confusing, no matter how well-designed it is. Here’s a list of tips over at Linux.com that will help while you get oriented (resistance is futile).
Ten tips for new Ubuntu users
1. Getting multimedia to work
The default Ubuntu install contains free software only, which means that it doesn’t support some popular multimedia formats straight out of the box. This is inconvenient, but the Ubuntu folks have good reasons for not shipping with support for MP3, DVDs, and so forth — including that software could cause them some legal headaches, or incur some serious fees.
Fortunately, as a user, you don’t need to worry about fees (though some of the packages may not be legal due to patent restrictions or restrictions on circumventing copy protection, depending on where you live). The Ubuntu wiki has a page on restricted formats that explains how to get the packages you need.
and so on for another 9 hints.