Linux User Groups (LUGs) are a good place to get technical advice if you are just starting out using Linux and Open Source Software. The usually meet on a regular basis to chat, help each other and hear presentations and see demonstrations. Some have a specific focus, but most are open to newcomers and experienced UNIX and Linux techies.

LUGs are a great way to get hands-on help from other Linux users. If you are having problems running Linux on your laptop, you can take the machine along and someone is sure to be able to help.

There is a list of groups at www.lug.org.uk covering the whole of the UK. Contact your local LUG manager by email to find out the date of the next meeting.

If you are looking for Linux information on the web, use the Google Linux search www.google.com/linux that restricts answers to Linux websites

If you are a Linux 'newbie' www.linuxquestions.org provides an excellent forum, tutorials and reviews and a rapidly growing Wiki at http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Main_Page It has expert representatives from many of the Linux Distributions.

OSS Watch www.oss-watch.ac.uk promotes awareness and understanding of the legal, social, technical and economic issues that arise when educational institutions engage with free and open source software. It does this by providing unbiased advice and guidance to UK higher and further education. It has a good guide to SourceForge at www.oss-watch.ac.uk/resources/sfintro.xml

SourceForge.net http://sourceforge.net/ the repository of thousands of open source projects . Go there to download the free software or contribute to source code development.