Installing some basic applications on your Ubuntu system
If you have enabled all restricted media formats as given in the previous post of the Ubuntu series, you are ready to install some applications for an enhanced experience with your Linux machine. You can go to Applications -> Add/Remove... and install the required applications available in the list. Some suggestion are below. Copy and paste (Ctrl+Shift+V) the command in (Terminal (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminl) and hit enter.
Startup Manager: In a dual-boot system with Ubuntu, you must have seen the message "Starting Grub" and the message that says loading this OS in "X"seconds. Grub controls which OS to load by default and other boot-up settings. Startup Manager allows you to make your own choice for start-up. You may use it to set the default operating system to boot or the wait time before booting into the default system.
Now go to System -> Administration -> Startup Manager and make the desired changes. Its comes handy if you wish to set Windows as default OS. Beware of making other changes.
Advanced desktop effects: If you wish to have advanced desktop effects, install Compiz Fusion and its settings manager.
You can alternatively go to Add/Remove applications and install "Advanced Desktop Effects Settings" to make your choices. Go to System -> Preferences -> CompizConfig Settings Manager, and make your choice.
Install download manager: Download managers are very convenient for downloading huge files that cannot be downloaded in one go. Downloader for X is one download manager for Ubuntu.
Image editing application: Gimp is a powerful, open source graphics and image editor, similar to Adobe Photoshop. It is also available for Windows.
You can also install an extra set of brushes, palettes, and gradients for GIMP.
Inkscape Vector Illustrator: Inkscape Vector Illustrator is an open source drawing program similar to Illustrator and CorelDraw.
Record my desktop: recordMyDesktop is a desktop recording utility.
Another desktop recorder: Istanbul is a desktop recorder for the Gnome desktop.
Managing webcam: If you have noticed, you cannot activate you webcam as a standalone in Ubuntu. The only way you can acctivate it is by using Ekiga Softphone that comes with Ubuntu as default. Camorama is a simple GTK-based (i.e. Gnome-based) interface for webcams using the v4l (video for linux) drivers. The application will be available under Applications -> Graphics.
Firefox plug-ins: Firefox is highly extensible web browser. It also supports lot of formats using plugins.
Adobe Acrobat Reader for Firefox
Adobe Flash Player for Firefox
Open source Flash Player Gnash: Gnash is available in a 64-bit version as well as a 32-bit version. It is the open source replacement for Adobe Flash player.
Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for Firefox
Opera: Opera is a nice Web browser and many people prefer it over other browsers.
Thunderbird: Mozilla Thunderbird is a free email client.
Pidgin: Pidgin is an open source IM application. It is the default in the Ubuntu (Gnome) desktop. You can access multiple messaging serices, including GTalk and Yahoo.
Skype: Skype is a proprietary VOIP and video conferencing application similar to open source Ekiga that comes with .
Filezilla: Filezilla is the ubiquitous free open source FTP client and server for all platforms.
Mozilla Sunbird (Calendar): Sunbird is a calendaring application.
PS: This is the fifth in a series on switching to Ubuntu from Windows, for non-geeks. At the end of the Ubuntu series, you will be a proud owner of a fantastic Linux system.
Ubuntu series:
Part1: Easy guide to getting started with Ubuntu
Part2: Dual-boot Ubuntu and Windows with common storage drives
Part3: Make Ubuntu mount partitions and drives automatically at startup
Part4: Activating restricted music formats, Java and Flash on Ubuntu
Part5: Installing some basic applications on your Ubuntu system
Part6: How to install and completely remove Wine?
Part7: Easily tweak Ubuntu with Ubuntu Tweak
Part8: Tasque manages to-do list locally or integrates with Remember The Milk
Part9: AllTray: Dock every application in tray
Part10: Install a Web server on Ubuntu home computer
Startup Manager: In a dual-boot system with Ubuntu, you must have seen the message "Starting Grub" and the message that says loading this OS in "X"seconds. Grub controls which OS to load by default and other boot-up settings. Startup Manager allows you to make your own choice for start-up. You may use it to set the default operating system to boot or the wait time before booting into the default system.
sudo apt-get install startupmanager
Now go to System -> Administration -> Startup Manager and make the desired changes. Its comes handy if you wish to set Windows as default OS. Beware of making other changes.
Advanced desktop effects: If you wish to have advanced desktop effects, install Compiz Fusion and its settings manager.
sudo apt-get install compiz compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-fusion-plugins-extra emerald librsvg2-common
You can alternatively go to Add/Remove applications and install "Advanced Desktop Effects Settings" to make your choices. Go to System -> Preferences -> CompizConfig Settings Manager, and make your choice.
Install download manager: Download managers are very convenient for downloading huge files that cannot be downloaded in one go. Downloader for X is one download manager for Ubuntu.
sudo aptitude install d4x
Image editing application: Gimp is a powerful, open source graphics and image editor, similar to Adobe Photoshop. It is also available for Windows.
sudo apt-get install gimp
You can also install an extra set of brushes, palettes, and gradients for GIMP.
sudo apt-get install gimp-data-extras
Inkscape Vector Illustrator: Inkscape Vector Illustrator is an open source drawing program similar to Illustrator and CorelDraw.
sudo apt-get install inkscape
Record my desktop: recordMyDesktop is a desktop recording utility.
sudo apt-get install recordmydesktop
Another desktop recorder: Istanbul is a desktop recorder for the Gnome desktop.
sudo apt-get install istanbul
Managing webcam: If you have noticed, you cannot activate you webcam as a standalone in Ubuntu. The only way you can acctivate it is by using Ekiga Softphone that comes with Ubuntu as default. Camorama is a simple GTK-based (i.e. Gnome-based) interface for webcams using the v4l (video for linux) drivers. The application will be available under Applications -> Graphics.
sudo apt-get install camorama
Firefox plug-ins: Firefox is highly extensible web browser. It also supports lot of formats using plugins.
Adobe Acrobat Reader for Firefox
sudo apt-get install acroread mozilla-acroread acroread-plugins
Adobe Flash Player for Firefox
sudo apt-get install adobe-flashplugin
Open source Flash Player Gnash: Gnash is available in a 64-bit version as well as a 32-bit version. It is the open source replacement for Adobe Flash player.
sudo apt-get install gnash
Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for Firefox
sudo apt-get install sun-java6-plugin sun-java6-jre
Opera: Opera is a nice Web browser and many people prefer it over other browsers.
sudo apt-get install opera
Thunderbird: Mozilla Thunderbird is a free email client.
sudo apt-get install mozilla-thunderbird
Pidgin: Pidgin is an open source IM application. It is the default in the Ubuntu (Gnome) desktop. You can access multiple messaging serices, including GTalk and Yahoo.
sudo apt-get install pidgin
Skype: Skype is a proprietary VOIP and video conferencing application similar to open source Ekiga that comes with .
sudo apt-get install skype
Filezilla: Filezilla is the ubiquitous free open source FTP client and server for all platforms.
sudo apt-get install filezilla
Mozilla Sunbird (Calendar): Sunbird is a calendaring application.
sudo apt-get install sunbird
PS: This is the fifth in a series on switching to Ubuntu from Windows, for non-geeks. At the end of the Ubuntu series, you will be a proud owner of a fantastic Linux system.
Ubuntu series:
Part1: Easy guide to getting started with Ubuntu
Part2: Dual-boot Ubuntu and Windows with common storage drives
Part3: Make Ubuntu mount partitions and drives automatically at startup
Part4: Activating restricted music formats, Java and Flash on Ubuntu
Part5: Installing some basic applications on your Ubuntu system
Part6: How to install and completely remove Wine?
Part7: Easily tweak Ubuntu with Ubuntu Tweak
Part8: Tasque manages to-do list locally or integrates with Remember The Milk
Part9: AllTray: Dock every application in tray
Part10: Install a Web server on Ubuntu home computer
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