How can I find help for new Ubuntu users?

Solution 1:

If you want a quick and easy guide, click on the top left corner and then type helpEnter and click the icon.

For a more comprehensive guide, Getting Started with Ubuntu is one for the Ubuntu operating system. It is written under an open source license and is free for you to download, read, modify and share.

The manual will help you become familiar with everyday tasks such as surfing the web, listening to music and scanning documents. With an emphasis on easy to follow instructions, it is suitable for all levels of experience.

• Download the Spanish language version of Getting Started with Ubuntu 13.10, Primeros pasos con Ubuntu 13.10 (155 pages, PDF).

• Guia Basica de Ubuntu - 18.04, 20.04

• ¿Cómo instalar Ubuntu Server 18.04 LTS?

• Download the English language version of Getting Started with Ubuntu 14.04.

• Download the English language version of Getting Started with Ubuntu 16.04

Ubuntu Documentation

• Ubuntu documentation for Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server

  Release                                            Desktop    Server             
  Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa)      HTML        HTML and PDF
  Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver)   HTML        PDF
  Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus)     HTML        PDF

• Ubuntu Community Help Wiki has useful wikis for new Ubuntu users.

Basic concepts

The same skills that Windows users learn are transferable to new Ubuntu users.

1. Don't install crap. Installing crap makes more problems than it solves. Use the default Ubuntu repositories as a source for packages to install.

2. Be zealous about not adding unnecessary PPAs to your software sources. This prevents package management issues.

3. Don't use root privileges except when required. Misusing root privileges is a major security risk.

4. Keep your system up-to-date and upgrade or reinstall the operating system when it reaches end of life.

5. Don't use weak passwords or reuse the same password in multiple websites.

Solution 2:

There is a slick on-line set of videos you can access that replace the downloadable PDF's that seem to be missing for Ubuntu 18.04.

Rather than a name such as Ubuntu 14.04 or Ubuntu 16.04 that are referenced in Karel's Answer, the videos simply refer to Ubuntu Stable. This could imply 14.04 and 16.04 which are not EOL (End of Life). However when you look at the video for "Switching Tasks" it appears to be geared towards Ubuntu 18.04 under Gnome Interface.

There are three videos provided:

• Launch Applications
• Switching Tasks
• Use Windows and Workspaces

Additionally, there are links to readable topics (with lots of images and/or animations) for common tasks:

• Browse the web
• Change the date, time and timezone
• Change the wallpaper
• Connect to online accounts
• Use the system search
• Use windows and workspaces
• Get online
• Launch applications
• Switch tasks