What advice would you give to new people just starting to use Linux?

[GuiGuy]

......
.. Don't be afraid of the terminal...
.....

I can't quite agree with that because IMHO beginners should avoid the root terminal
unless they don't fear having to reinstall their system.

My advice:-
Don't use the terminal as root (or use sudo in the terminal) until you have some *nix
experience - even experienced users need to take care as root in the terminal.

[azrielle]

To borrow a legal term, you assume facts not in evidence.
Most new users haven't a clue about bash commands, much less the ones likely to get them in trouble. Other than apt-get *.

[NGIB]

My advice is use the programs you need just as you do under Windows. Many of them are the same or nearly so and let's be honest, most folks turn on their computer to do something other than play with the OS. Surf the web, listen to music, watch videos, read a book, build a spreadsheet, create a written document, etc. The OS is just there to allow you to use what a computer offers...

[richb]

To borrow a legal term, you assume facts not in evidence.
Most new users haven't a clue about bash commands, much less the ones likely to get them in trouble. Other than apt-get *.

Except they do a Google search and blindly follow some advice, bring up a root terminal and make a mess.

[KBD]

Think of the software or package manager like the app stores on smart phones, and install your programs from there. Don't go trawling the internet downloading executable files from different locations like Windows.

Well said. Coming from Windows I expected to have to look up programs to download like Windows. It took awhile to get used to using Synaptic, but once that was figured out things got much easier.

[KBD]

......
.. Don't be afraid of the terminal...
.....

I can't quite agree with that because IMHO beginners should avoid the root terminal
unless they don't fear having to reinstall their system.

My advice:-
Don't use the terminal as root (or use sudo in the terminal) until you have some *nix
experience - even experienced users need to take care as root in the terminal.

It's a good point, but 99% of the time when they come onto a forum like this we will need them to run some terminal commands just to get basic info about their system.
I look at the terminal as a way to look into their computer and find out what's making it ill :) Plus it will make other things easier for them if they don't fear the terminal. Yes, it can wreck their machine if they do something foolish, but that is also a way to learn, if the hard way.

[sunrat]

Keep notes. Whenever you do something you may wish to do again sometime note it down. For configurations, commands, installing drivers or firmware, anything. I use Zim Desktop Wiki for this, and keep a backup copy of the notes directory just in case.
And make backups! I do system backups but systems can be reinstalled. If you lose your personal data, it may be gone forever. Backup your personal data! This applies to any OS or device.

[Artim]

Keep notes

That's a good one! I started a "Linux diary" in which I wrote down what I hoped to accomplish, what I did to make it happen, whether or not it worked, how I fixed it - even if I just gave up and reinstalled.

[asqwerth]

Keep notes

That's a good one! I started a "Linux diary" in which I wrote down what I hoped to accomplish, what I did to make it happen, whether or not it worked, how I fixed it - even if I just gave up and reinstalled.

I use Geany as my text editor because by default it remembers all opened tabs upon exiting. So when I next open Geany, I have that text file (actually I have a few) where I keep all my useful notes and terminal commands opened automatically.

Examples:
1. the full syntax for the dd command, together with the target USB device name (/dev/sdd) on my machine, and also the lsblk command, just so I never forget and type /dev/sdc by accident, which would wipe my DATA PARTITION.
[even though MX's live usb tool now has an easy way to use the dd command, I multiboot so this command is helpful while I'm booted into another distro]

2. my older Brother scanner driver has an issue where the files are installed in an folder location that is no longer accessed by scanner programs. So I have all the terminal commands ready to create the necessary symlinks to the appropriate folder location whenever I install the scanner driver in a distro.

[LnoyBoy]

Practice with live cds/dvds first.