In the past, if you didn’t want to buy a computer with Windows installed, your choices were rather limited.

Specifically, there was a choice between buying an Apple Mac and installing Linux on a bare PC.

If the idea of a Mac didn’t appeal, then a fair amount of technical knowledge and nerve was needed to install Linux.

However, this has changed. Not only is Linux a lot more user-friendly, but some companies, including Dell, now sell PCs with Linux instead of Windows pre-installed.

Switching on a Linux PC for the first time may be a little disorientating as many options are in different places. Follow our guide and find your feet quickly and easily with the Ubuntu version of Linux.

Getting started and logging in
Starting the computer is just like any other PC, but there is an extra menu before Ubuntu starts properly. This is only needed if there is a problem with the computer, much like the diagnostic menu that flashes up when most Windows PCs start. Unless there’s a problem, this menu can safely be ignored as Ubuntu will start automatically after a short delay.

Just like Windows, a new Linux computer may go straight to the desktop, or it may require logging in. If you are prompted to log in, enter the username supplied with the computer and press Enter or Tab, then enter your password and press Enter one more time. The Ubuntu desktop will load and you are ready to go.

The desktop
The Ubuntu desktop may look very different to Windows but it is simple to learn. The information held in the Taskbar is divided into two sections at the top and bottom. From left to right, the bottom bar shows buttons for all the running programs, small previews of the two available desktops (more on those later) and an icon for the Recycle Bin.

The top bar crams in a lot more. The Applications menu is like the All Programs option in the Windows Start menu. The Places menu has shortcuts to regular locations such as your home folder and the CD or DVD drives. The System menu functions like Control Panel in Windows, and links to the help documentation and the shutdown options.

There are some shortcuts for The Firefox web browser, an email account and calendar program called Evolution and help next to the menus. The right-hand side of the top Taskbar shows icons for information such as wireless networking signal strength and the date. The final icon shows the shutdown options for the computer.

The desktop operates much in the same way as Windows. Files can be saved here as well as organised in folders. The bottom bar shows all the active programs and works just like the main part of the Taskbar in Windows.

Connecting to the internet
The simplest way to connect to the internet is to connect a network cable between the computer and a broadband modem router. Plug in the cable before starting the computer and Ubuntu will connect automatically. If you have an older broadband modem with a USB plug for the computer, things may be more complicated ­ go to http://tinyurl.com/2xtjt2 for advice on setting up these modems. If the USB broadband modem is a Speedtouch model, you’re in luck. There’s a very clear walkthrough covering how to set the modem up on the Ubuntu website at http:/ /tinyurl.com/ybafk7.

Wireless networking is also easy with Ubuntu, even if you move between different networks. Click on the icon with two circles and a slash between them in the top right of the screen to see a list of the available wireless networks. Left-click on the one you want to connect to. If the network is protected a window will appear asking for the passphrase. Type this in the box and click on Login to Network. You may be prompted for a password for the keyring, which is a very handy little program. The keyring stores all your user names and passwords centrally, secured by a single password.

Dial-up modems are more of a challenge to set up. If you are not lucky enough to live in an area covered by broadband, or want to stick with dial-up networking, you can find more information on the Ubuntu Wiki at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SettingUpModems.