Modern versions of Unix use a graphical desktop much like the ones designed by Xerox before they were "borrowed" by personal computer vendors. There are a number of different Unix desktops, some more like the Macintosh, and others more like Microsoft Windows. In this class, we use the Gnome desktop manager. Popular alternatives include KDE and WindowMaker.
Do not be deceived by the friendly-looking desktop. Unix is fundamentally command-oriented. All (well, most) interaction is via a command-line program called the shell. Ignore all those fancies icons you see when running X-Windows! They're just window dressing over the shell.
Right click on the desktop and select "New Terminal" or click on the terminal icon in the desktop panel (if there is one).
This will bring up a command-line terminal. You can do this multiple times to run several shells simultaneously:
There are many different shells with bizarre names like bash, sh, csh, tcsh, ksh, and zsh. The "sh" part means shell. Each shell was designed for the purpose of confusing you and tripping you up. We have set up your accounts to use tcsh. Stay with tcsh and you'll get used to it, eventually.
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