I am a fairly new Unbuntu convert. Unbuntu has great hardware detection capabilities but a little tweeking and getting everything to work is part of the fun ;) I have found the following website very helpful getting started.
Peace to all ! SugarLand2k
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UserDocumentation
http://help.ubuntu.com/starterguide/C/faqguide-all.html
http://www.psychocats.net/linux/
http://ubuntu.xgn.com.br/ubuntu_user_guide_05.12.pdf