It is quite possible to just install a distribution of Linux and never have to use the CLI (Command Line Interface), if you are only using e-mail, surfing the Web, chatting with friends and maybe writing a letter or two. GUI's (Graphical User Interface) such as KDE or Gnome are just as easy to use as, or even easier than Windows. Sooner or later, a new user will want to do a lot more with their computer and then it's time to learn about the CLI. It's easier than you think and you can learn at your own pace.

Using the CLI gives the user a sense of the power of Linux. Instead of waiting for instructions, you have total control over your computer. In fact, many tasks can be done faster with the CLI than you normally can do with the GUI. Installing packages (programs and applications) that are not included with the distribution will require use of the CLI, along with system maintenance.

Examples: Want to know what the status of your printer is?.  Simply open up a terminal and type lpq, hit Enter and your printer status is right there. It’s 5 times faster than opening windows. Want to know your disk usage?. Type df –h and hit Enter. Want an instant calendar?. Type cal -3 and you get a three month calendar. You get the idea.

The KDE desktop uses Konsole as the terminal program for entering your commands. Gnome uses gnome-terminal. You can also use xterm which is another shell emulator by pressing Alt + F2  to open the Run Command box. Just type in "xterm" (without the quotes) and hit Enter. Xterm is included with most Linux distros and works with any desktop. For one of the best sites to learn how to use the Command Line Interface, you can click on the following link:   http://linuxcommand.org/

Tip: Some people hate to type and I happen to be one of them. Having a three button mouse is really essential for using Linux and avoiding some typing, by cutting and pasting commands and other text. You can also save a lot of commands to a regular text editor that's included in the distro. Example: If you are setting up a Samba server on your computer, you may have to access the Samba configuration file a few times. You can either use the arrows keys to bring up the previous command line history for access to the file, or simply copy and paste this command  "less /etc/samba/smb.conf "  (without quotes") from your text editor into the terminal and hit the Enter key.