Many thanks to all the people who shared their experiences. And especially to the Belgian Linux users, among them my husband, for hearing me out every day and always being generous in their comments.
Also a special thought for Tabatha Marshall for doing a really thorough revision, spell check and styling, and to Eugene Crosser for spotting the errors that we two looked over.
And thanks to all the readers who notified me about missing topics and who helped to pick out the last errors, unclear definitions and typos by going through the trouble of mailing me all their remarks. These are also the people who help me keep this guide up to date.
Finally, a big thank you for the volunteers who are currently translating this document in French, Swedish, German, Hindi and more. It is a big work that should not be underestimated; I admire your courage.