New to UNIX
Contents |
Choosing a window manager or desktop environment
The first decision you have to make, is what window manager you want to use. Unlike Windows, which only has one desktop environment, there are multiple to choose from here. Each of them have their own strengths and customizations. For beginners we recommend IceWM, which looks a lot like Windows. Note that some of the window managers are marked UNSUPPORTED. They should work but are not prioritized as high as the others.
Some people with a little more UNIX/Linux experience will find, that Gnome and KDE are missing. These have been available ealier, but we found that they were not suitable for Terminal use. They hog too much of the shared resources and caused a performance decrease.
Starting a program from the menu
The G-Bar menu contains a list of all the installed programs ready to use. Just like the Programs folder in the Windows start menu. See G-Bar menu for more information.
Starting a terminal
A Terminal can be compared to a Dos prompt in Windows. Almost everything can be handled by a Terminal, but it requires a little more knowledge. See the Terminal and UNIX pages to get started.
NB! Many of the guides require you to start a Terminal. It would be a good idea to spend a few minutes playing around in a Terminal, so when the time comes when you need it, you won't be lost!
Printing
Printing from the G-Bar is a little different than printing from a Windows machine with a local printer. Most of the printers in the G-Bar are Network printers. To get started see the Printing from the G-Bar page.
Popular programs on Solaris
Most Windows users find, that they're not familiar with the programs on Unix/Solaris (with good reason!), and seek programs with functionality equivalent to windows programs. This list describes some of the most popular programs on Solaris.
Further information
The Windows FAQ is a good place to start. You should also browse around this Wiki for more information.