This guide is just a brief introduction to some of the basics, but there are many places where you can get additional help from openSUSE users - which method to choose depends on personal preference.


In most cases you'll easily find the answer to your question with a simple search using your favourite web search engine. Google provide a search page specifically for GNU/Linux related searches:
http://www.google.com/linux

You can ask for help on the official web forums.
http://forums.opensuse.org

You can get help in realtime using IRC (Internet Relay Chat). The IRC-client Konversation is installed by default and preconfigured to join the #suse channel on the Freenode IRC network.


If you're new to IRC you should probably read the rules before joining.
http://opensuse-community.org/IRC_rules

IRC channels also exist for support in many other languages than English. See the list here:
http://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:IRC_list

You can get support on mailing lists, see:
http://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Mailing_lists

There's likely to be a LUG in your vicinity, with mailinglists or forums and possibly meetings where you can get help face-to-face and meet other GNU/Linux users in "real life".

You'll find a lot of docs and howtos on the openSUSE wiki:
http://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Documentation

Many applications come with a handbook, often you can access it by pressing F1. Usually packages also include documentation which is normally installed to the location /usr/share/doc/.

GNU/Linux supports most hardware, but not all. Components that are very new on the market, or components with little marketshare, are most prone to causing problems. Here are some databases tracking support for various hardware types. It's recommended to research whether hardware is supported by GNU/Linux before making a purchase.

• http://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Hardware
• http://www.linux-laptop.net/ (Laptops)
• http://thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki (IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads)
• http://bugtrack.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Matrix:Main (Sound cards)
• http://www.openprinting.org/ (Printers)
• http://www.sane-project.org/sane-supported-devices.html (Scanners)
• http://linux-wless.passys.nl/ (Wireless cards)
• http://linuxtv.org/ (TV cards)
• http://www.linux-usb.org/ (USB devices)
• http://www.linux1394.org/hcl.php (FireWire)
• http://mxhaard.free.fr/spca5xx.html (Webcams)
• http://www.ideasonboard.org/uvc/#devices (Webcams)

If you really want to get deep knowledge of GNU/Linux on a serious level, consider reading some books. Technical book stores are loaded with GNU/Linux litterature and you might find something interesting in your local library too. You can also check out these websites, for gratis e-books:
http://tldp.org/
http://en.flossmanuals.net
http://www.freetechbooks.com/