So if you're lazy, bail out now. Most of the applications software you are familiar with in Windows is not available in a Linux version, and running them through one of the Windows emulators may not be entirely satisfactory. Most of the software manufacturers have so far chosen not to port their most popular applications to Linux - this is not a decision made by the Linux community. If the software is copyrighted and trademarked into the next century and beyond, you'll have to talk to the manufacturers about it. When you need help, consult the index to your textbook.
Chances are it has already been asked and answered dozens of times.
It gets old fast when the same questions keep coming up week after week, The answers don't get any better the questions the fifth or sixth time around. Also be aware that most of the spammers use the newsgroups as a primary source for adding to their mailing lists. The private mailing list set up specifically for this course has been moderately active. For the most part, students helping other students has many advantages - you're all reading the same lessons and textbooks, and trying to get the same tasks done. Only occasionally have I interrupted this free flow to furnish some little tidbit of information that somehow did not make it into the textbook or lessons.