Moving from Windows to Linux

Contents

A.1. Starting Applications from the Main Menu
A.2. Managing Files
A.3. Using the Command Line
A.4. Customizing Your Desktop
A.5. Switching between Applications
A.6. Accessing Network Resources

If you are coming from Microsoft Windows, take a look at how familiar elements of Windows translate to openSUSE®. After logging in, you will notice that the desktop has a familiar layout and recognizable icons, many of them similar to the Windows and Macintosh desktops.

Figure A.1. GNOME Desktop

GNOME Desktop

Starting Applications from the Main Menu

Similar to the Start menu on Windows, you can access all the programs installed on your system from the main menu. To open the menu click Computer in the left corner of the panel. Commonly used applications appear in the main menu, along with recently used applications. Click More Applications to access additional applications, listed in categories. Find more information about the main menu in Section 1.4, “Using the Main Menu”.

Figure A.2. Main Menu in GNOME

Main Menu in GNOME

Alternatively, you can also start programs from the command line. Press Alt+F2 to open a dialog where you can enter a command to start the application. The name of the command is often (but not always) the application name written in lowercase.