Window's to Linux

Clarifications

imho the best way to learn what questions to ask is just to jump into it. Download a few live cd's so you can find out what you want out of a distro. Then pick one and actually install it. Getting a distro all setup usually generates a few questions. You can also do some reading on the particular core you have choosen.

One thing to remember, there are roughly 200 linux distros. If you don't like one, try another.

You also may wish to take a look at any distro your company is actually considering. That way your information is relevent to the core they maybe/are using.

I think it is great that your company wants to start using Linux. Just checkout http://distrowatch.com and download some of the top distro's. You can either run the live CDs or dedicate a computer to testing different distributions. Pick the distribution that would best match your company and go with it.

They are all very easy to learn, until you get to the more advanced stuff of course. For basic use though, office, surfing the web, and email, most distro's are ready to go right after install.

There are several distributions of Linux out there. What one are they wanting you to learn? I know Fedora/Red Hat, OpenSuSE, Mandriva, Ubuntu, Debian, MEPIS, and Mandrake. If any apply to you, just tell me. As you can tell, I haven't used Linux in a professional environment, just for personal use. I know some Terminal commands in Red Hat, Fedora, and OpenSuSE, that's it. Anything on SMB/Windows with Linux, I can't help you on, I have tried it, it is a pain to set up. If you want me to do anything for you, just ask.

Get Ubuntu. Its free, and if your coming from the Windows side of the house this is going to to be the easiest transition for you.
Its listed #1 on the distrowatch page. Huge fan base means a wider variety of answers and expertise at your disposal.
Use the GUI to start. Get a quick ref card for the linux commands.

Thanks for the help. I am using Ubuntu at the moment. I'm learning slowly but that's due more to time alotment than trial and error.

I would recommend PCLinuxOS, PCBSD, or SUSE.
SUSE is incorporating more MS compatibility and I beleive Novell is looking at their enterprise edition to be able to work much more flawlessly on Windows networks. This may include, in the near future the ability to add a SUSE Linux system to a domain, use MS domain logon accounts better, etc.

PCLinuxOS just works well for the end user, and it looks great

PCBSD is a new distro based on BSD (known secure), but seems to be one of the easiest to install applications, etc. from.

Many people like Ubuntu/kubuntu as well. Personally though, I do not like fedora, but I cannot say about red hat servers.

best suggestion is just to dive into one of the afore-mentioned distros. give a couple of days with a test drive and try another. Also, pick up a book that can help you with the basics.
There are also many websites to choose from, that have been posted, but here are some good ones to truly get your hands dirty.

A must go to site for a beginner
http://reallylinux.com/

Other good sites were listed here. But there are plenty more:
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=102&threadID=212004&messageID=2176170