Laminate flooring is a very easy thing to put down if you are prepared. One thing many of the first time installers that I have talked to forget are the simple pull bar and grooved plastic block. These tools are inexpensive and will make your job 100% easier. It would be a good idea to purchase 2 of the plastic blocks on account of their tension to break if you tap them too hard.
The first thing that needs to be done is to make sure the floor is properly prepped. You need to make sure the floor is as level as possible. You have to lay your moisture barrier down after you have the level surface. It is rolled padding that you will find next to the flooring. This also prevails the laminate flooring from moving. A quick way to help with the barrier is to duct tape the pieces together after you lay each row down. One thing to remember is the barrier has an up side and a down side (not reversible).
The next thing to do is to measure the room and decide how wide of piece you will have left if you start with a whole piece. If you end up with too narrow of piece the flooring may break. You may have to cut the first and last row in width to make it right. When you start the flooring remember to stagger it, meaning if you start the first row with a whole piece start the next row with a smaller piece. Start each row from the same end. You have to put full pieces in the middle or the grooves wont be there to lock in the next piece. When you get close to the wall use the pull bar to tap the pieces together.
Now that you get the basic idea it will be a breeze to finish your laminate floor. Always remember to measure twice and cut once. Remember you want this floating floor to end up very close to (but not touching) the wall. That will determine the width of the trim you will need to finish the job.
I hope I have been helping to somebody that has made the choice to take on a new challenge.