If you are new to linux and now have a brand spankin' new installation to play around with, I'd strongly suggest exploring the directory /usr/docs and subdirectories there. Over the course of a month or two, spend your evenings reading the various HOWTO files. Yes, it will eat into your freeptime, but it will pay off in the long run. Thusly you will come to understand your system and its quirks. Hardware configurations by hand frustrate newcomers but reading newsgroups and googling for fixes is a great way to go. By the way, of the myriad of reasons to use linux usually cited, the one that usually gets left off is "fun".
Wondering if anyone else has heard of it.
GoboLinux - the alternative Linux distribution
Has a neat Logo: