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Help for new Linux users is usually just a mouse click away!  Listed below are some helpful links.   Of course every Linux distro has its own user forums where you'll find some friendly and helpful folks.   Linux is very "different" from Windows, but once you get the hang of a few basic things, it's not so hard.

LINUX NEWS SITES

Linux.org  -  The premier web portal for Linux news and views.
Linux.com  -  Linux and free software news and tips
Linux Weekly News - Linux news and info site
Linux Watch - Linux news site and web forum
Linux Planet  - Linux news, discussions and tutorials
Linuxworld.com.au - Australian-based Linux news site
Desktop Linux - The latest news on Linux on the desktop computer
Tectonic - Linux and tech news from Africa


WHERE TO GET LINUX

Distrowatch.com  - This is the premiere site for the latest info on Linux distro releases, reviews etc. with download links.  They also have a somewhat irregular podcast.
The Linux Store.ca - If you don't have an highspeed internet connection, these folks will sell you Linux disks for a small fee.  
LinuxISO.org -  A site where you can download "ISO image files" of many Linux distros that you can burn to CD or DVD disk.

LINUX HELP FORUMS

Linuxquestions.org  -  A great site to get help with Linux problems.   There's also a regular podcast called "LQ Radio".
Linux Newbie Guide -  The site is aimed at new Linux users and claims to be "Linux without the techno-babble".
Just Linux -  Another useful Linux web forum.
Tuxfiles - A Linux newbie site
Tuxs.org - Another Linux newbie site!
Jakilinux.org - A Linux website based in Poland with lots of helpful articles.
Tux Machines - A Linux news and help site
Linux Neophyte - Linux newbie blog
Nuxified.org - A free software support community

LINUX ONLINE TUTORIALS

HowtoForge.com - A really terrific site with step by step install instructions for a number of Linux distros and also tutorials on how to setup various types of servers!
The Linux Tutorial
Lowfat Linux - Tutorials for Linux novices
Tuxfiles -  Linux newbie help

HELP CHOOSING THE "RIGHT" DISTRO FOR YOU

Linux Distribution Chooser - Too many distros to choose from?  This page can help you figure out which Linux distro is best for your needs.
Which distro for you?
Which Linux should I choose? - from "Tuxs.org"
Wikipedia Article "Comparison of Linux Distributions"

LINUX SCREENSHOTS

Linux Screenshots from O'Reilly's OSDir.com - Never "seen" Linux?  Visit this site and you'll find out when many distributions "look" like.

LINUX HARDWARE ISSUES

Leenooks.com - A "Wiki" site with lists of computer hardware that don't run on Linux!  (This list is getting smaller!)
Linmodems Support - If you're stuck on dial-up, you'll have to use a modem to get on the net.  Unfortunately most modems are "software" as opposed to "hardware" modems.  And of course the software they're designed to work with is Windows so they're often called "winmodems".  This is a site maintained by volunteers that might be able to help you to get your winmodem to play nicely with Linux!
Linux on laptops - Installing Linux on a laptop is a bit more complicated than installing on a desktop computer because of the "proprietary" hardware.   If you plan to install Linux on a laptop, you'll likely find some very useful help here.   By the way, most folks seem to have the best luck installing on IBM Thinkpads.   My own installation of Mandriva 2005 on an old Thinkpad A22 went absolutely flawlessly!
Open Printing -  A site maintained by the "Free Standards Group", a group that's dedicated to "open standards based computing".    This site can help you if you're looking for a printer that'll work with Linux.
Free Software Foundation List of Devices that support GNU/Linux
Pen Drive Linux - A site with lots of great information that will help you run Linux from a USB pen drive.
Linux Questions.org Hardware Compatibility List


LINUX GAMES

All work and no play does make life rather boring!

Linux Games
Happy Penguin
Linux Gamer's Game List
Games for Linux
Linux Gamers.net
Tux Games

LINUX PODCASTS

You'll find that many Linux-related podcasts are in "ogg" files either instead-of or in addition to "mp3" format.

What's an "ogg"?   Ogg is short for the "Ogg Vorbis" audio codec.   Ogg Vorbis is a free and open source audio format for compressed audio files. Anyone can use it royalty-free.  The common "mp3" format is proprietary (as Micro$oft recently found out!).

Ogg Vorbis compresses audio into somewhat smaller files than the mp3 format but is somewhat less "lossy" than the mp3 format.  If you're on a Windows computer, you'll find that the VLC Media Player is best for ogg vorbis audio.   Also, many of the portable audio players from iRiver and Samsung will play ogg vorbis files.

Your Apple iPod can not play ogg vorbis files (unless you hack the firmware with "Rockbox")

Lugradio - "Lugradio" is an internet radio programme produced in the UK dedicated to Linux and open source software.   If you miss an episode, its no problem as the previous episodes are all archived on the site.  As well, be forewarned about the liberal use of "four-letter words".  (Haven't you sworn at your computer lately?) If you don't like hearing them, don't listen!

Linux Reality - A podcast dedicated to the new Linux user

Linux Action Show  -  Comes out weekly.  This is one of my favourites!

The Linux Link Tech Show - Two hours of Linux "tech talk"

The Linux Link - Links to Linux-related podcasts

Linux News Log - Linux news podcast

Ubuntu Podcast - Podcast dedicated to the "Ubuntu" family of distros

Open News - Weekly open source news podcast

Lottalinuxlinks -  Podcast that provides you with interesting links to Linux-related software.

The Lip - Linux installation podcast.   Help with installing various Linux distros.

FLOSS Weekly - Podcast by Leo Laporte from "This Week in Tech" and Chris DiBona.

Sourcetrunk - Originates in Belgium.  Lots of free software "how to's"  each podcast begins with a review of a great Belgian beer!

Going Linux - Linux podcast dedicated to "switchers"...those moving from Windows to Linux

Linux Basement -  Has some excellent "how to's" and he gets out his guitar and sings his latest Linux tune.  (Can you imagine anyone writing songs about Windows?   Nah....didn't think so!)


LINUX TV

GO Open Source - This 13 part television series aired on the South African Broadcasting Corporation's Channel 2 from 2004 to 2006.    All 13 episodes have been archived online for download on the "Internet Archive" site as "ogg" video files.   Each episode is about 25 minutes long and each file is about 200 megabytes.   You're best to use the free and open source VLC Media Player to view the files.

Download via FTP              Download via HTTP

ONLINE LINUX MAGAZINES

Tux Magazine -  An online magazine dedicated to new Linux users.  It appears to be defunct now with the last issue having been put out in December, 2006.   However all of the old issues are archived on the site and there is alot of good information in the back issues.
Free Software Magazine -  Another online magazine dedicated to the use of free software. 
Full Circle - A new online magazine dedicated to the popular "Ubuntu" family of Linux distros (Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Edubuntu, Xubuntu)
Dragonia Magazine -   Originates in Poland and the first seven issues were published in the Polish language.  However starting with the eighth issue they began publishing in the English language....but it looks like they've stopped publishing in English and now publish in Polish only.
 

LINUX PUBLICATIONS (The kind made out of dead trees)

Here in Canada the publications listed below are available from the "larger" Chapter's-Indigo stores or at the "Presse International" chain of magazine stores in Toronto.   The UK-based magazines are a little on the pricey side, but include CD and DVD disks loaded with current Linux distros and other open source software.

Linux Format - (UK based) - Issues more than about a year old are archived on the website in .pdf format.
Linux User and Developer - (UK based)
Linux Pro Magazine - (UK based) - Issues more than six months old are archived on the website in .pdf format.
Linux Journal - (US based) - Some articles archived on the website
Linux Magazine - (US based) - Back issues archived on line about two months after publication.

WHERE TO BUY COMPUTERS WITH LINUX "PRE-INSTALLED" IN CANADA

The Linux Store
sub300.com
Lincan

LINUX HANGOUTS

Linux Caffe - If you're in Toronto (or visiting Toronto) this is an "internet cafe" where everything runs on Linux!   They've even "open sourced" their hot chocolate recipe!