I got Ubuntu 7.10 and installed it on my old HP laptop (Pavilion ze1115). I'm now looking for a good desk reference that I can thumb through when I'm putzing about with Ubuntu. Any recomendations? I spent about half an hour at Barnes and Noble looking through some fo the UBuntu books, but just really couldn't decide which would help me the most. What I don't want to do is end up logging on to the Internet (yes, I'm still back in the dinosaur days of dial-up) and reading about it in the ubuntu forums for a while and then having to come back to the laptop for experimentation.

Just getting interested in Linux as a desktop option and getting a new desktop as well. I have ordered the latest Kubuntu through ShipIt and was wondering what kinds of hardware others are using it on. I (unfortunately) don't have nearly as much time as I would like to devote to tweaking the hardware, so was thinking of just going with a low cost solution something from Dell with pre-installed Ubuntu, or maybe even Zareason.com. Also I am wondering if anyone has test-driven the really cheap offering from Sears ($198 after rebate) I might consider it if it isn't too bad.

Thanks!