I partially disagree with this statement:
Quote:
forget what you know about windows and don't compare the os's
Ultimately, there are some fundamental similarities that you are likely already aware of.
1. The operating system manages the hardware.
2. The operating system provides an environment for applications to run in/on
3. File management and directory structures behave in a similar fashion
4. Scripts are written to manage mundane tasks
5. etc...
The uniqueness of the operating systems (whether Windows vs. UNIX vs. Linux vs. VAX vs. HP Calculator vs. whatever) are in how you manage various components as well as in how feature-rich your tools are.
Configuration in the UNIX world generally happens via the command line, rather than the extensive use of dialog boxes. In Solaris, you will be called upon to edit text configuration files. In Solaris, you have a 'cron' to manage scheduled tasks. In Solaris, your operating system is broken out into several directories (/var, /usr, /opt, /etc)
Any time that you expect to build a new host, you likely make a list of the services that you expect a host to provide - ie: account management, disk mirroring, secure file transfer, apache, etc. Do the same thing with your Solaris laptop. Focus on one area at a time, and play with configuring these on your laptop. Don't be afraid to get in and mangle stuff on your laptop. You can always reload the OS and try again.
If you are looking for a specific command, but don't know where to start (or what it might be called), you can check out the
UNIX Rosetta Stone to get you started. Select "Solaris" from the list in the top left, then click "Draw Table". It has a bunch of commands grouped together by topic. Find one that looks related, and then go to your laptop and type "man <command>" (without the <>). 'man' is your friend - get used to it. It is our "clippy"
Once you are comfortable with some of the concepts - you don't need to know everything - then you can start asking some questions, and the nutshell book will help with clarity.