Customising linux

Hello, i am new to linux and i find the GUI hard to use.

I want to be arranged the exact same way at windows XP. How you got the start bar which goes to my docoments, programs and recent used programs etc. How do you do this?

Please help me, i really do want to use linux but the user interface is too confusing and not my style (everything is all over the place).

btw i am using Linux Mandrake 10.0 COmmunity. I plan to get the final version when it comes out on the internet.

ALSO how do you make windows software work on linux?

Does anyone know a linux version of windows office? I have Open Office 1.1 but its missing alot of features from windows office. e.g the spreadsheet you can’t make graphs etc.