1. THIS WORKSHOP ASSUMES YOU have Ubuntu installed on your PC via Virtual box. Start Vlltualbox and launch the virtual PC runlllng Ubuntu. Enter the usemame and password set up during installation to access the Desktop. Ubuntu uses the Gnome Desktop by default. Much like the Windows Desktop, this is the software that provides the windows, menus and toolbars that control the PC. In the top-left of the Desktop are three menus. These enable the user to launch programs, browse the hard disk and network or make system changes. Click on Applications and choose Office, followed by Openoffice.org Word Processor to launch the program.

2. NOTE THAT UBUNTU DISPLAYS a tab for the program on the bar at the bottom of the screen. This does much the same job as the Windows Taskbar. When several pwgrams are open, the tabs switch between the open windows. Openoffice.org Writer is similar to Microsoft Word prior to the 2007 version. Create a document and click on the Save icon on the toolbar. Give it a file name and click on file type to expand the options. Scroll down to Microsoft Word 97/2000IXP and click on Save, followed by OK.

3. THIS ACTIO SAVED A document in Word format and stored it in the Documents folder, within the Home folder. This is Ubuntu's equivalent of My Documents in Windows. To examine it, close Open officr.org Writer by clicking on the cross in the top-right of the window and choose Places followed by Home Folder. This opens the home folder of the current user. There are a few sub-folders set up by default. Double-click on the Documents folder to see the file saved by Writer.

4. TO DELETE THE FILE, right-click on it and choose Move to the Deleted Items folder. Alternatively click-and-drag the file to the Deleted Items icon in the bottom-right comer of the screen. This works in exactly the same way as the Recycle Bin in Windows. Double-click on Deleted ltems to see the contents of the folder. Click on Empty Deleted Items to delete it completely or drag the file back onto the Desktop to restore it. Delete an individual file from Deleted Items by right-clicking on it and choosing Delete from Deleted Items.

5. CLOSE ALL OPEN WINDOWS and choose Applications, then Internet and finally Evolution Mail. The first nime Evolution runs, it launches the Evolution Setup Assistant, which is designed to set up email accounts and restore backed-up data. It works a bit like a Windows wizard, in other words. In Virtual box, the assistant window may be bigger than the Desktop. If this is the case, pressAIt and click-and-drag the window to see the parts that overlap the edge of the screen, which may include the crucial Forward and Back buttons. Enter the username and email address to use with Evolution when prompted.

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6. THE EVOLUTION SETUP ASSISTANT asks for mail server details including the server type, address and username of the mail account on both incoming and outgoing servers. This information is provided by your internet service provider (ISP) - check its website for details or consult your documentation. In most cases the incoming server is a POP one and the outgoing server is S M T P. The address usually follows the form pop.myisp.com or smtp.myisp.com. When the assistant completes, Evolution prompts for the mail password before it collects the email.

7. Evolution displays email headers in the top pane, A, with the contents of the selected message in the bottom pane. It's similar to Microsoft Outlook, providing Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Memos and Tasks. Use the buttons in the bottom-left pane to move between each section. Importing existing data from Outlook is tricky because it involves several conversions, so it's best not to attempt this at the moment. However, entering new contacts, events and tasks from scratch is an almost identical process.

8. Close Evolution and choose Applications, then Internet and finally Ftrefox Web Browser. This works in the same way as the Windows version of Firefox. Enter a web address (u R L) in the address bar to go to that web page. Here we're viewing the BBC's online pages. The default Home page provides some details about Ubuntu, plus links to official and community created documentation, mailing lists and the Ubuntu forums. These are a great place to go for help and support using Ubuntu. They include an excellent Absolute Beginner section where new and experienced users can exchange ideas, ask questions and help one another out.

9. After being installed Ubuntu checks for software updates. There are usually some to download and install. These are indicated by an icon in the top-right comer of the screen showing a white star on an orange background. There's usually a pop-up message as well. To see what updates are available, double-click on this icon. A window opens showing each update. There may be lots, so choose which you need to install.

10. To install the updates click on Install Updates. This involves changing fundamental files and settings so Ubuntu prompts for the user account password before downloading and installing the updates. This can take some time. When Ubuntu is installed on a real PC (ie, not in a Virtual box window), another pop-up message may appear to indicate that a third-party graphics driver may be available_ Click on the highlighted icon and opt to download and install this driver. This makes it possible to install advanced Desktop effects, which can rival those of Windows Vista's Aero.