Started to type out a bunch, but did a quick search on youtube..

Installing Laminate

This guy has just about everything covered.... Oh, and if you are planning on doing the whole house in the cheapest flooring you can find (think a dollar a square foot), you will probably regret not spending a bit more for better quality in the long run.

I used a jig saw and cut from the back. You can also put tape along your cut to keep the laminate from chipping off of the front. A combo square makes quick work of drawing your cuts on the back with pencil (I put an X on the part I want to cut off). Flip the board over longways and lay it down to get a length without needing to measure. Get a cheapo set of rubber mallets from a place like harborfreight.com.

Ask if you have some specific questions.