Getting Help Online
Ubuntu's success may very well be attributed to its vast and responsive online community more than any other design characteristic. The official Ubuntu forums Web site is the best source for answers to your Ubuntu questions. Take the time to register yourself on the forums so you can ask questions when you have them. I have yet to ask a question about hardware that hasn't already been asked and answered on the forums, and my software questions have all been answered within 12 hours.
If the forums don't have the answer, or if you're the impatient type, simply Google your question with the word “Ubuntu” added. Chances are good that someone has already started a thread for your subject somewhere. If that fails, replace the word “Ubuntu” with the word “Linux” in your Google search. Many of the solutions will be the same across the varied Linux distributions.
If you need to know whether or not your wireless equipment will function, go to Linux wireless LAN support. You can look up your hardware and the site will tell you if it a) works out-of-the-box, b) not-at-all, or is going to be a c) pain-in-the-you-know-what.
LinuxCompatible.org is an online compatibility database for applications, games, and hardware, and it is always expanding. This site is worth checking out if you are considering purchasing something that you want to work with Linux. However, it by no means lists all compatible applications, games, and hardware, so it should not be your only resource.
If you want to learn, or simply translate terminal commands, Tom's Hardware has the Universal Command Guide for Operating Systems at your disposal.