just how much can you do with?

[Kyle]

I have been using Linux exclusively since about 2010, and have been 
using it for about 90 to 95% of all my computing tasks since 2003. Each 
new Linux gets easier and easier to use without a steep learning curve, 
and I personally recommend it for everyday desktop use, both for 
command-line only use as well as for those who have been running Windows 
for years and need a graphical system that is easy to learn and use. 
Most new distributions don't need to be rebuilt every few days, and 
whereas Windows has become pretty much a toy these days, and in my 
opinion always has been a toy OS, Linux still allows you to do nearly 
everything efficiently and productively.

Some of the best Linux documentation can be found at the Linux 
Documentation Project
http://tldp.org/
and specific questions are asked and answered at
http://linuxquestions.org/
The Arch wiki also has extremely good general documentation, even if you 
don't use Arch Linux. Many other distros have their own wiki and other 
documentation as well.

As for working with "batch files," I am assuming you are referring to 
the rather limited Dos scripting language. Bash is still a bit limited 
compared to something like Python, but it is certainly much more 
flexible, while still being just as easy to use as the old Dos .bat 
files. I can do things in Bash that I never dreamed were possible in 
batch files, but at the same time, I can also create a Bash script that 
just executes a few commands, just like a batch file, but I can also use 
Bash functions for a job like this.

As for your method of learning, I can fully understand the easiest way 
for you to learn things, as I am pretty much the same way, although I 
also can learn new things quite easily just by searching the web for 
documentation and the like and then applying it to my specific 
situation. I probably am not in your area, so wouldn't be able to sit 
down with you and walk you through specific applications one-on-one, 
however, I actually do have some e-mail and phone-based personal support 
packages available,, as this is part of my line of work, along with 
building Linux-based PC's and replacing Windows with Linux-based OS's. 
If you would be interested in discussing your personal support options 
with me, feel free to contact me off-list.
~Kyle
http://kyle.tk/.
-- 
"Kyle? ... She calls her cake, Kyle?"
Out of This World, season 2 episode 21 - "The Amazing Evie"